Alright, folks, make some noise for the newest, most ridiculously talented retiree joining Ned’s Wish squad: the one and only Canine Blaze! Born in Salt Lake City on May 3, 2017, and fresh off the boat from Ontario Natural Resources, Blaze spent six glorious years ensuring that fish thought twice before jumping into the wrong cooler, poachers suddenly developed cold feet, and missing people found their way home – usually with a bewildered look on their face. He’s also making history as the very first K9 from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to join Ned’s Wish!
Blaze wasn’t just any dog with a badge; he was a walking, sniffing, furry force of nature. While based out of Guelph, this canine dynamo basically had a frequent flyer pass for all of Ontario. He could sniff out anything from a rogue walleye hiding in a tackle box to a long-lost deer antler, and he was a master at finding those “oops, I left my evidence here” human scents. Apparently, he was so good, he could tell the difference between a brook trout and a rainbow trout just by smelling a puddle. And he wasn’t just after the whole animal, oh no. Give him a single hair, a stray feather, or even a drop of blood, and Blaze was on it like a duck on a Junebug.
Now, about his work ethic: Blaze was basically a canine overachiever. He tracked more scoundrels through conditions that would make a seasoned outdoorsperson want to curl up in a fetal position than we can count. He consistently led his human to poachers and illegal fishers, often with a triumphant bark that probably translated to “Gotcha, you sneaky little rascal!” He even moonlighted for homicide investigations, once famously unearthing a bullet that had been chilling in the dirt for days. We’re pretty sure the bullet itself was shocked to be found.
For most of his illustrious career, Blaze had the distinct pleasure of working alongside Canine Conservation Officer Sean Cronsberry from 2019 to 2024, who then got promoted to Canine Provincial Training Specialist Sgt. Sean Cronsberry for Blaze’s grand finale year. We’re willing to bet Sean has enough “Blaze did what now?” stories to fill a book, especially considering the dog’s… unique hobbies.
When he’s not busy being a super-sniffer and a general pain for lawbreakers, Blaze transforms into a 70-pound lap dog. Yes, you read that right. We can only imagine the sheer joy (and potential bruising) this brings to his human. But wait, there’s more! Blaze is also known as “Houdini Houndini.” This canine escape artist learned to open his kennel door by simply watching his handler. Not content with a mere latch, he taught himself to turn a doorknob with his mouth! He’s even busted out of his vari-kennel multiple times by sheer force of will and canine ingenuity, leading his early handlers to question their own sanity and whether they’d simply forgotten to close the doors. His favorite toys are balls with strings, though his main objective seems to be meticulously de-stringing them.
Currently, Blaze is living his best retired life, with nothing more serious than some minor ear inflammation. A small price to pay, we say, for a career dedicated to both public service and the art of the great escape.
We’re absolutely thrilled to have K9 Blaze join the Ned’s Wish family! Here’s to many years of comfortable naps, uninterrupted ball-de-stringing, and hopefully, no more daring kennel breakouts.