Mike and Natasha Routly get to know their new Lisa after adopting her during National Puppy Day on Mar. 23. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Puppy Love

Battlefords Humane Society celebrates National Puppy Day

Mar 23, 2025 | 4:14 PM

It was a life-changing moment for a little black Pitbull-Labrador mix named Lisa.

While the excited little puppy no older than four months was getting scratches and head rubs from her new mom, Natasha Routly said, “You’re going to have a home to come home to.”

With Lisa in their arms, Natasha’s husband Mike explained he’s been a lifelong animal lover.

“I’m a sucker for animals and when I see animals needing homes, I like to help them out,” he said.

“We have an acreage just south of town and we already have three dogs at home, and we were looking to add a fourth to our family.”

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Lisa gets adopted. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Their new addition came to be adopted from the Battlefords Humane Society’s event at Co-Op Discovery in celebration of National Puppy Day on Sunday where staff introduced some fluffy, fun and rambunctious friends to the community.

“This day is really good for bringing awareness to things and situations that are not wonderful for puppyhood – puppy mills, overcrowded shelters,” said Lindsay Munroe, Battlefords Humane Society.

She explained that the shelter staff works hard to socialize and train as much as they can, but some have an overwhelming charge and don’t get as much attention, thus events like this one are needed.

“I’m hoping that a lot of people can come out, even if they can’t adopt, just to like see them and pet them, just give them that attention and stuff that they don’t normally get is the goal today.”

For 10-year-old Grayson Johnson, it was a chance to play with some puppies – one in particular named Bart – and beg his parents for another puppy to add to their family which already includes a dog and a cat.

As he and his mom Cherise were petting the little flop-eared pup, they had an animated discussion with the young boy trying to convince her about the benefits of having another four-legged friend join the family. Though his mom agreed the puppy was soft and sweet, they weren’t going to adopt.

Cherise Johnson and son e Grayson, 10, give Bart some love. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“If that dog named Bart’s still there, I’m going to adopt him,” he said when asked if he would get a dog when he’s older.

Looking around the mall area where the table and area was set up, Munroe acknowledged it was emotional.

“You get to love them, right? Like, I don’t work at the shelter but I’m there a lot and you really, you get to know them, especially the dogs, I mean they’ve got such personalities,” she said.

Before finding their little bundle of legs and tail, Natasha explained they had been watching the humane society page for some time when they saw the post about the event and knew they had to attend, along with Mike’s Aunt who adopted a puppy named Aurora.

Mini Mango made some new friends on National Puppy Day. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Mike said one of their dogs was a Pitbull and so upon meeting Lisa, they knew she’d fit in well with Luna, Lily and Journey.

“You know, Pitbull get bad names and it’s a shame ‘cause they’re such loving dogs and they’ll give you anything,” said Mike.

As for the first thing they plan on doing when they get home?

“Introduce her to our other three dogs – first we’re going to go to Pet Value – buy her some stuff,” said Mike.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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