We all know social media can feature a lot of gossip and complaining. But there's a very active page that focuses on love and positivity, in North Bay and area, and it has impacted many lives.
If you explore Facebook, you'll find a page under the name "Buster's page - Helping North Bay pets get home" run by seemingly tireless volunteer Tracey Truchon.
Truchon says so many lost pets and families have been reunited through the page, she no longer has accurate numbers.
"There have been so many animals on the page over the past six years I honestly have lost count. To this day, each time one is reunited with their families it still makes my day."
And it's not just pooches and purrers that get back home - the page has no boundaries when it comes to helping animals.
"Through the years we have had so many cats and dogs posted, but it goes beyond just that. .We have also had chickens, goats, horses, cows, birds, a water dragon and even pigs posted on the page. The community truly is the reason the page is successful. They share the posts and are on the lookout for them all the time," explains Truchon.
The page got started when Truchon's family lost their own beloved pet, Buster the dog.
"The page started In December of 2013 and at first it was created with the hopes that it would get attention and help us get my little girl's puppy back. It was such a helpless feeling. Our family went out searching alone and were having no luck, but within a very short time friends of mine joined the search and soon people in our community I had never met were following the page and offering support and even coming out in terribly cold weather to help. It meant more than I could ever actually express in words," she says.
While Buster's story ended on a sad note, the animal's legacy lives on through helping others, say Truchon.
"Sadly after months of sightings, countless hours of trying to track him and trap him, drudging through very deep snow and even sleeping in our vehicles I received the call I had been dreading. Buster was found deceased. My little girl, who was eight years old at the time, suggested that we continue with the page and try and help other pets be reunited with their families. It ended up being the silver lining in a very dark cloud."
Truchon says there's a dedicated group of helpers that make the page's efforts even more successful. She calls them "Buster's Angels" and says they deserve a lot of credit.
"There is Darlene Weiler Jamieson, Charlene Weiler, Sandi Steuart (Murray), Tracy Richardson Sloan, my daughter Sara and my husband Kirk. They are the most driven and dedicated group," she adds.
If you want to help, or need some help, Truchon says connecting via the page is your best bet.
"The best way to get in touch with me is the Facebook page. If they have a missing pet they can either post directly on the page or send me a message."
This is one of a series of good news articles about "Helpers" in our community. To suggest a person, volunteer, group or an organization contact Mike Anthony at [email protected]
