The killings triggered a massive outcry in the community and around the world. It triggered a funeral procession through Whistler Village, a "Dog Walk for Change" the weekend after and a "Barking Mad" Tweet-up in West Vancouver. There was also a rally of hundreds at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

Response within Whistler has been swift. On the day that news broke about the killings, both Tourism Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb suspended bookings for Outdoor Adventures through their websites and that suspension remains in force.

AAS comment: To government, this is a p.r. and tourism disaster, not a humane disaster. But the government is almost certainly furious with the SPCA for permitting this to happen. For the SPCA the irony would be that it may have always kept public knowledge about Howling Dogs private in order to protect tourism. In the end the SPCA didn't protect the dogs or tourism.