Sophie and Tad, the Landry couple's Maremma sheepdogs, demonstrated remarkable duty and heroism in protecting 89 sheep from wild predators and wildfires for 20 days. Lynn and Lorne Landry had to evacuate their farm in 100 Mile House, British Columbia due to the devastating forest fires that have been ravaging the Canadian province for months. Despite the sudden and fierce nature of these disasters, many rural families were able to flee to safety - but not without leaving their livestock and animals behind. The Landrys' story of courage and loyalty is a reminder of the emotional toll these fires have taken on countless people.
On the evening of July 6, 2017, the Landry family found themselves in a difficult situation; they were forced to evacuate their home with no time to spare, leaving only one gate open for their animals. Over the next two emotional days, their neighbors' houses were destroyed while theirs remained unharmed by some miracle. On July 8, they were granted a 1-hour permit to visit their property to check on their animals. Lynn Landry told the 100 Mile Free Press, "We opened all of our gates so that they could get to the lake for water and we left a 35-pound bag of feed and dog food so they wouldn't starve. We had to leave right away; it was like a war zone with spot fires burning and helicopters going overhead to collect water from the lake."
They ensured that both Sophie and Tad were safe with the sheep, but were informed that it would be the SPCA and the Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team (CDART) who would be monitoring the animals left in the wake of the fire. It wasn't until July 24 that the dogs' guardians were allowed to return home. When they arrived, Sophie and Tad were patiently waiting for them with their sheep. Lynn posted a photo of the two dogs on Facebook and wrote: “Our beautiful but very dirty guardian dogs, Sophie and Tad. They bravely guarded our sheep for the 20 days we were away while fire raged on around them, helicopters flew overhead and houses around them burned down. If only they could talk, I'm sure they would have some amazing stories to tell! They're eagerly awaiting dinner.”
Lynn expressed to the 100 Mile Free Press that she was certain that the two dogs would serve their purpose and not abandon the sheep. She can't believe how they were able to endure the flames and the loud helicopters in the sky, as well as potential predators that may have come close. She thinks that the dogs stayed close to the lake to give the sheep access to water and protection. Lynn stated on Facebook that the dogs aren't saying much about their experience, but she did note that their paws were smudged and fur was dirty, but they are still in good health after their lengthy ordeal. Lynn is immensely thankful to all the people who helped care for Sophie and Tad while they were in need.
The loyalty of her dogs brings to mind those guardian canines that were pictured trying to shield a fawn from the perils of a wildfire. Fortunately, in this case, the tale has a much more uplifting ending.