Gary Shade explains FLED's journey and mission

Host Peter McCully welcomes Gary Shade, founder of FLED (Find Lost and Escaped Dogs Vancouver Island), who shares the inspiring story of his journey in dog rescue spanning over 15 years. Originally under the radar, FLED became a charity in 2013 and has since grown exponentially.

Gary discusses the challenges faced during the recent attempt to capture a wolf-dog hybrid in the Coombs area, highlighting the limitations posed by authorities and the unexpected obstacles encountered during the rescue mission.

The conversation delves into the motivations behind lost dogs, the use of technology like cellular trail cameras and the unique difficulties in the rescues.

"The best is a cellular trail camera," said Shade. "That's the biggest plus we've had. You can set your trap up or set the camera up, and you can monitor 24/7, even be at home."

Gary also shares heartwarming success stories of reuniting lost dogs with their owners, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of these situations.

"We've had a few that have been a long time,” he said. “They're out in the bush for maybe 30 days. We actually got a little border collie. He escaped from Nanaimo, and he went from Nanaimo to Duke Point, to Cassidy, to Cedar, to South Nanaimo, to Parksville, Northwest Bay, Lantzville – and we finally got him after 74 days.”

The podcast sheds light on FLED 's partnerships with animal control, the SPCA, and other organizations, as well as the support received from the community. Shade provides insights for individuals encountering lost dogs and encourages support for FLED 's mission.

More information on FLED can be found here.

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