'Gilligan's Island crew' of puppies rescued from uninhabited northern Manitoba island

A litter of puppies has been brought back to civilization after they were discovered on a small, uninhabited island near Cross Lake, Man.

Come Saturday, they will be on the road to Winnipeg with Norway House Animal Rescue after beingpicked up from the island on Wednesday.

"They will be the Gilligan's Island crewfour boys, three girls," DebVandekerkhove, director of the rescue, said, referencing the 1960s TV show about castaways stuck on an island.

"As we meet them, we will attach their names based on their personality you know, who's the goof, who's the boss."

It's not clear how the pups ended up on the island.

Vandekerkhovesaid she got a call Monday from a volunteer from Cross Lake,more than 500 kilometres north of Winnipeg,saying that aboaternamed Junior Cook discovered the pups, which are about four months old.

"He actually heard them the night before. He and his friend were out and it was getting dark already, and they heard some noises on the island," she said.

"They took their binocularsand they couldn't see anything but some dark shadows, and they heard a bunch of crying. They thought originally it was wolves."

When daylight came,Cook returned and found the puppies. He gave them whateverfood he had on the boat and got in touch with the rescue, saidVandekerkhove.

She said they supplied him with food and the puppies ate a whole bag in a day.

While she hasonly seen photos and videos of the dogs, she said that based on conversations with Cook, it seems the puppies are doing well.

"They'regetting better with people now, which is a good thing because they were terrified of them when they first came."

The rescue is driving to Cross Lakeon Friday and will bring the pups back to Winnipeg this weekend.

They will eventuallybe put up for adoption by Winnipeg Pet Rescue.

See video of the puppies on the island:

Stranded puppies rescued from northern Manitoba island

6 years ago

Duration 1:00

A litter of puppies has been brought back to civilization after being discovered on a small, uninhabited island near Cross Lake, Man.