# Canada stops using ‘avalanche dogs’ for rescues in Rocky Mountains, stirring outrage

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/canada-stops-using-avalanche-dogs-for-rescues-in-rocky-mountains-stirring-outrage/
- Published: 2026-10-30T17:00:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T17:11:50+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwdd8q8e9e9yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Parks Canada is ending its Banff rescue dog programme.
- Leroy helped track 156 people and find 57 lost in the wilderness.
- More than 5,000 people have signed a petition to restore the programme.

## Summary

Parks Canada is ending its canine search and rescue programme in Banff National Park this month, prompting public criticism over the loss of a safety resource. The decision comes amid wider federal public service cuts, though the agency says search and rescue will continue by other means.

The programme ran for 55 years and used dogs to locate people after avalanches and in wilderness searches. Its last working dog, German Shepherd Leroy, retired in August after helping track 156 people, find 57 people lost in the wilderness and solve two murders. More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the programme to be restored.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.