08/22/2026
We never imagined that while grieving the heartbreaking loss of Shaggy, we would also find ourselves having to defend the care she received or the actions of our rescue.
We have nothing to hide.
Just Woof It Rescue had been actively working to safely trap Shaggy since May 24th. This was publicly documented on our page that very day along with being played on the radio and on several Lost & Found Pet sites.
We had already been established in the area and working with Shaggy for weeks before another group placed a trap in close proximity to ours. Suggestions that this was some sort of "competition" between rescue groups are simply not accurate.
Animal rescue is not a competition.
Just Woof It Rescue has been rescuing and helping animals for 32 years. Our only goal with Shaggy was the same goal we have with every animal we help: to get her safely off the streets and give her the care she needed.
On Thursday, August 6th, everything changed.
Shaggy, a remarkably street-smart dog who had survived on her own for months, was struck by a vehicle after she was being chased.
That evening, Shaggy was released into the care of Just Woof It Rescue in the parking lot of Bluewater Veterinary Emergency Clinic after the Owen Soud Police Services Constable Boyle cleared the release with the attending Animal Control Officer who was present. There were six people physically present and two additional people on speakerphone.
Because the after-hours clinic was not open, we immediately contacted our veterinarian personally.
Shaggy was taken for veterinary care and received full pain management, diagnostic testing, ICU-level care and continuous observation for 72 hours at Wiarton Animal Hospital.
On Sunday evening, Shaggy was released into our care for the night while she remained on pain medication and was stable while we awaited the referral necessary for surgery.
We returned to Wiarton Animal Hospital the following day and received the referral to the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.
We drove Shaggy to Guelph that same day.
She remained there under specialist veterinary care and underwent two major surgeries in an effort to save her.
We drove to Guelph five out of the seven days she was there so that we could be with her.
When Shaggy was admitted, Just Woof It Rescue was required to provide 75% of her $15,000 estimate upfront — $11,250 - we posted the last page of the invoice (on the GoFundMe) we were given but knowing that is not the final amount, which is why we haven't posted all 8 pages. We will be doing that once the final invoice is sent to us - we want people to see the amount of care this girl had! OVC said it could take up to 5 business days to send out final invoicing!
For a small rescue that receives no government funding and relies heavily on fundraising and the generosity of our community, that is an enormous amount of money.
But we did it without hesitation because Shaggy deserved every opportunity we could give her.
On Saturday night, August 15th, Shaggy's condition took a devastating turn when infection took hold. The following day, after consultation with her veterinary team, we received the news we had desperately hoped we would never hear.
Continuing treatment would mean putting Shaggy through additional procedures with a guarded prognosis.
The kindest and most humane decision was to let her go.
And we did.
We said goodbye to a dog we had spent months trying to save and only days finally being able to love up close.
This loss has brought us to our knees.
Instead of simply being allowed to grieve Shaggy, we now find ourselves having to publicly explain and defend the extensive veterinary care she received.
So, we want to make something very clear:
Just Woof It Rescue did its due diligence.
Shaggy received pain control, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, intensive veterinary care, specialist referral, two major surgeries and everything medically reasonable that could be offered to her.
Her care was guided by veterinary professionals every step of the way.
We did not give up on Shaggy.
We fought for her.
We travelled for her.
We fundraised for her.
We paid for her care.
We sat beside her.
And when there was nothing more we could reasonably ask her to endure, we loved her enough to let her go.
There have also been comments suggesting that Just Woof It Rescue is not registered.
For anyone questioning our legitimacy, our registration/business number is:
We have spent years building our reputation in this community through our actions and helping SO many animals and we will not allow misinformation, accusations or online negativity to overshadow that work — or Shaggy's story.
People who choose to use our page to spread false information, hatred or unnecessary negativity have been, and will continue to be, blocked.
We have zero tolerance for hate, harassment or misinformation.
We will not engage in online drama.
We will continue doing what we have done for 32 years:
Helping animals who need us.
Thank you to every single person who supported Shaggy, donated toward her care, shared her story, prayed for her, followed her journey and stood beside us.
We have nothing to hide. We know what we did for Shaggy. And we would do it all over again.
❤️🐾
Just Woof It Rescue
