Canada stops using 'avalanche dogs' for rescues in Rocky Mountains, stirring outrage

What the report says

Parks Canada has ended its long-running search-and-rescue dog programme in Banff National Park and the wider Canadian Rocky Mountains, prompting criticism from local officials and dog handlers. According to the BBC, the move affects the agency’s last canine rescue role in the region and comes amid broader federal budget reductions affecting public service spending.

The programme, which has operated for 55 years, was used to help locate missing hikers, skiers and children in difficult terrain and after avalanches. Retired dog handler Scott Ward told the BBC that the animals were valuable because they could search quickly in dangerous conditions and reduce risks for rescuers. He described the work as important for both public safety and staff safety.

Parks Canada said the decision was difficult and said search-and-rescue duties would continue through other methods. The agency also said the change is part of efforts to modernize its law-enforcement branch. Banff-area Conservative MP William Stevenson, who launched a petition, said the cut could put public safety at risk. More than 5,000 people had signed it by Tuesday, reflecting public backlash to the decision.

The BBC reported that the last dog in the programme, a German shepherd named Leroy, retired in August after helping track people and assist investigations. More generally, avalanche dogs remain in use in some mountain regions elsewhere, underscoring the debate over whether this specialized capability should be preserved in Canada.