Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Dogtown Vancouver: In Loving Memory of Wishart

Today's edition of Dogtown Vancouver is under sadder circumstances as we remember a very special dog we featured, Wishart. A little over a week ago, Wishart was put into emergency surgery and sadly passed away.

Wishart and Rob's birthday cake

Today's edition of Dogtown Vancouver is under sadder circumstances as we remember a very special dog we featured, Wishart. A little over a week ago, Wishart was put into emergency surgery and sadly passed away. You can see his original post here from just a few months ago where we profiled the talented canine who had a vital part in the work by Ocean's Initiative - a non-profit dedicated to conducting research to conserve ocean wildlife.

wishart2

Wishart could detect whales and dolphins as part of his owners' Rob and Erin's work. As they previously described, "We’re not sure if he hears, smells or sees the dolphins we study, but he detects them miles before we do, and lets us know they’re there with a bark that sounds like throat singing." Wishart trained himself to identify all the marine mammals in their study site, and invented a special barkhowl to let us know when the focal species, Pacific white-sided dolphins, were in the area but his owners were too human to see or hear or smell them.

Wishart's talent and contribution to ocean conservation received such a positive response that we wanted to help spread the word about Rob and Erin's efforts to honour the work that Wishart contributed. Ocean's Initiative will redouble efforts to study & protect "Wishart's dolphins". They have a great opportunity to go out in the field October 1st-21st and unexpectedly have a chance to bring his ashes home to his field site, and spread some on the sea that made him so happy.

A friend of theirs has started a campaign to help them reach their goal to make this opportunity a reality. If you would like to support their efforts please visit the donation page and select "Wishart's Dolphin Project" under the "donation to a specific fund" drop-down.

Thank you Rob and Erin for sharing Wishart's story with us and our readers. His story and work for Ocean's Initiative will not be forgotten.