Give Hope to John Pilon & in Loving Memory Noodles
Donation protected
Give Hope to John Pilon & in Loving Memory Noodles
This is the story of a man who could not have more bad luck in one year and, who ultimately loses tragically the one thing he loved, his companion Noodles. We are the “Friends of John Pilon and Noodles” and this is his story.
My wife, Kathy, and I (Dan Blair) live in Morriston Ontario about 5 minutes north of Freelton on Hwy #6. This past January we came across a black Dodge Ram parked on the side of a gravel road just outside of Morriston on a morning walk. After several days of seeing the same vehicle, we approached it with the intent of asking if we could be of any help. There was a middle-aged man and a dog in the truck and when approached he was initially defensive. The next day he was still there, and he rolled the window down to ask us a question. As it turns out it was the beginning of a new friendship. His name is John Pilon and his dog was Noodles. He told us he was homeless and was just trying to survive the Winter. We offered him blankets and food but he mostly would not take any help. Eventually he told us about falling victim to a "rental scam" in Hamilton where he gave 6 months rent only to find out the person offering a small house did not own the property and thus was on the street. Unfortunately, the police were of little help and the media was not interested. Because of his dog who he loved dearly he could not take a room in a shelter, so he chose to live in his truck. These stories of rental scam are becoming an epidemic in our society. Here are a couple of links to some of these common stories:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/this-rental-listing-scam-is-on-the-rise-and-catching-people-off-guard-1.4995168
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/it-did-seem-too-good-to-be-true-ontario-family-warns-of-rental-scam-1.4933822
https://www.lowestrates.ca/blog/homes/scammers-are-finding-toronto-fertile-ground-prey-renters
After a week in Morriston he felt he was too close to residential properties, so John asked me if I knew of any more private and quiet spots. I suggested an area supervised by Hamilton Conservation, Fletchers Creek about 5km away on Concession 7 in Puslinch. He took my advice and stayed there for the next 4 months. My wife and I walked throughout the Winter down to Fletcher's almost every day and through this we really got to know John and his sweet loving dog, Noodles. John shared an interest with myself in history, so we had plenty to talk about and I shared my National Geographic magazines. Some nights it would get down below -20C and we worried for him and his dog. It still bothers me that anyone should have to take shelter in a truck during our brutal Winters.
As it turned out John made friends with some others, especially those who used the Fletcher's property, especially the old quarry and pond area, to walk their dogs. Elizabeth Moe and Sarah Glading both from Freelton would often meet John at the old quarry/pond adjoining Fletchers Creek in Puslinch. They developed their relationship with John through the dogs. Elizabeth walks dogs and found that the quarry was a perfect spot in a rural quieter area. She walked Sarah’s two Doberman’s who became best buddies with Noodles, on a nearly daily basis. Even as a lover of pets, I must admit I had a negative presumption about Doberman’s use as snarly guard dogs. I could not be more wrong. Noodles and Elizabeth’s Doberman’s could not be more gentle, sweet and with most loving hearts. Elizabeth shared many books with John and they spent many hours talking while walking the dogs and ultimately became his good friend.
As the Spring emerged it became evident that the abandoned quarry and pond adjacent to Fletcher’s Creek was a “hot spot” for the younger crowd as a swimming spot and party hang out. So, John was looking again for alternate spots to stay especially on weekends.
A week after May 24th Memorial Day Weekend, I received a phone call from Elizabeth to inform us that John's truck "blew up" and that John was in hospital at Hamilton General Hospital with 2nd/3rd degree burns all over his body and sadly his dog Noodles died. The truck fire/explosion happened on Safari Road in Flamborough on May 24th weekend. John had just purchased gas on Highway 6 near Carlisle and was heading to a Crown Land nearby to avoid the partying happening at the quarry/pond . While on Safari Road his truck was not running properly so he pulled over onto the side of the road and thought it prudent to let it cool down. When he turned the ignition, immediately there was an explosion and a resulting cab fire. The fire came through the vents and engulfed him, so he reached for the door handle and was able to roll out onto the ground beside the truck. Sadly, his best friend and loving companion Noodles did not get out and perished in the fire.
As it turns out his truck, a 2019 Dodge Ram, has a lengthy history of cab fires and here is a link to some of the unsettling stories about the thousands of these incidents:
https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1127048_ram-recalling-nearly-85-000-new-heavy-duty-pickups-for-fire-risk
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/park-outdoors-ram-recalls-heavy-duty-trucks-for-fire-risk-1.1581166
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/auto-news/ram-trucks-catching-fire-drive-owners-to-file-class-action/
Needless to say, John is devastated. He has been a victim of a rental scam that made him homeless, he has lost his truck that had become a makeshift “home”, lost all his work tools and clothing in the fire, he has been burned badly and worse than anything he has lost his most prized and LOVED possession, his faithful and loving companion Noodles. I cannot imagine how difficult this is for John since it brings tears to my eyes even writing this. We all love Noodles.
As the “Friends of John and Noodles”, we hope to raise enough money to provide some hope for John. We would like to locate an apartment and pay the first six months, furnish the apartment with basic used furniture, and if possible, acquire a used truck. If John feels emotionally ready, perhaps get John a furry new companion.
The Hamilton Spectator on June 23rd featured a story on John and Noodles on the FRONT page. The reporter, Nicole O'Reilly, did a marvelous job capturing the horrors John has encountered this past year. She is a wonderful person and a true professional. Here is the link to the article:
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/2021/06/23/how-a-hamilton-man-lost-his-home-and-two-dogs-in-a-year.html
John does not have a home address and is not the best at managing finances so as the “Friends of John and Noodles” we are going to assist as the beneficiaries and be there for him through this difficult period in his life. We are hoping others will be kind enough to donate to this heart-breaking saga.
A special note after the publication of the Hamilton Spectator article. Firstly, I am overwhelmed by the generosity and the caring of people reading John's story. Secondly, a gentleman named Bob McQueen, stopped by the shelter and delivered a donation to John. Unbelievably, he gave John a $2,500 gift. John and Noodles want to thank Bob so so much.
This is the story of a man who could not have more bad luck in one year and, who ultimately loses tragically the one thing he loved, his companion Noodles. We are the “Friends of John Pilon and Noodles” and this is his story.
My wife, Kathy, and I (Dan Blair) live in Morriston Ontario about 5 minutes north of Freelton on Hwy #6. This past January we came across a black Dodge Ram parked on the side of a gravel road just outside of Morriston on a morning walk. After several days of seeing the same vehicle, we approached it with the intent of asking if we could be of any help. There was a middle-aged man and a dog in the truck and when approached he was initially defensive. The next day he was still there, and he rolled the window down to ask us a question. As it turns out it was the beginning of a new friendship. His name is John Pilon and his dog was Noodles. He told us he was homeless and was just trying to survive the Winter. We offered him blankets and food but he mostly would not take any help. Eventually he told us about falling victim to a "rental scam" in Hamilton where he gave 6 months rent only to find out the person offering a small house did not own the property and thus was on the street. Unfortunately, the police were of little help and the media was not interested. Because of his dog who he loved dearly he could not take a room in a shelter, so he chose to live in his truck. These stories of rental scam are becoming an epidemic in our society. Here are a couple of links to some of these common stories:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/this-rental-listing-scam-is-on-the-rise-and-catching-people-off-guard-1.4995168
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/it-did-seem-too-good-to-be-true-ontario-family-warns-of-rental-scam-1.4933822
https://www.lowestrates.ca/blog/homes/scammers-are-finding-toronto-fertile-ground-prey-renters
After a week in Morriston he felt he was too close to residential properties, so John asked me if I knew of any more private and quiet spots. I suggested an area supervised by Hamilton Conservation, Fletchers Creek about 5km away on Concession 7 in Puslinch. He took my advice and stayed there for the next 4 months. My wife and I walked throughout the Winter down to Fletcher's almost every day and through this we really got to know John and his sweet loving dog, Noodles. John shared an interest with myself in history, so we had plenty to talk about and I shared my National Geographic magazines. Some nights it would get down below -20C and we worried for him and his dog. It still bothers me that anyone should have to take shelter in a truck during our brutal Winters.
As it turned out John made friends with some others, especially those who used the Fletcher's property, especially the old quarry and pond area, to walk their dogs. Elizabeth Moe and Sarah Glading both from Freelton would often meet John at the old quarry/pond adjoining Fletchers Creek in Puslinch. They developed their relationship with John through the dogs. Elizabeth walks dogs and found that the quarry was a perfect spot in a rural quieter area. She walked Sarah’s two Doberman’s who became best buddies with Noodles, on a nearly daily basis. Even as a lover of pets, I must admit I had a negative presumption about Doberman’s use as snarly guard dogs. I could not be more wrong. Noodles and Elizabeth’s Doberman’s could not be more gentle, sweet and with most loving hearts. Elizabeth shared many books with John and they spent many hours talking while walking the dogs and ultimately became his good friend.
As the Spring emerged it became evident that the abandoned quarry and pond adjacent to Fletcher’s Creek was a “hot spot” for the younger crowd as a swimming spot and party hang out. So, John was looking again for alternate spots to stay especially on weekends.
A week after May 24th Memorial Day Weekend, I received a phone call from Elizabeth to inform us that John's truck "blew up" and that John was in hospital at Hamilton General Hospital with 2nd/3rd degree burns all over his body and sadly his dog Noodles died. The truck fire/explosion happened on Safari Road in Flamborough on May 24th weekend. John had just purchased gas on Highway 6 near Carlisle and was heading to a Crown Land nearby to avoid the partying happening at the quarry/pond . While on Safari Road his truck was not running properly so he pulled over onto the side of the road and thought it prudent to let it cool down. When he turned the ignition, immediately there was an explosion and a resulting cab fire. The fire came through the vents and engulfed him, so he reached for the door handle and was able to roll out onto the ground beside the truck. Sadly, his best friend and loving companion Noodles did not get out and perished in the fire.
As it turns out his truck, a 2019 Dodge Ram, has a lengthy history of cab fires and here is a link to some of the unsettling stories about the thousands of these incidents:
https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1127048_ram-recalling-nearly-85-000-new-heavy-duty-pickups-for-fire-risk
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/park-outdoors-ram-recalls-heavy-duty-trucks-for-fire-risk-1.1581166
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/auto-news/ram-trucks-catching-fire-drive-owners-to-file-class-action/
Needless to say, John is devastated. He has been a victim of a rental scam that made him homeless, he has lost his truck that had become a makeshift “home”, lost all his work tools and clothing in the fire, he has been burned badly and worse than anything he has lost his most prized and LOVED possession, his faithful and loving companion Noodles. I cannot imagine how difficult this is for John since it brings tears to my eyes even writing this. We all love Noodles.
As the “Friends of John and Noodles”, we hope to raise enough money to provide some hope for John. We would like to locate an apartment and pay the first six months, furnish the apartment with basic used furniture, and if possible, acquire a used truck. If John feels emotionally ready, perhaps get John a furry new companion.
The Hamilton Spectator on June 23rd featured a story on John and Noodles on the FRONT page. The reporter, Nicole O'Reilly, did a marvelous job capturing the horrors John has encountered this past year. She is a wonderful person and a true professional. Here is the link to the article:
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/2021/06/23/how-a-hamilton-man-lost-his-home-and-two-dogs-in-a-year.html
John does not have a home address and is not the best at managing finances so as the “Friends of John and Noodles” we are going to assist as the beneficiaries and be there for him through this difficult period in his life. We are hoping others will be kind enough to donate to this heart-breaking saga.
A special note after the publication of the Hamilton Spectator article. Firstly, I am overwhelmed by the generosity and the caring of people reading John's story. Secondly, a gentleman named Bob McQueen, stopped by the shelter and delivered a donation to John. Unbelievably, he gave John a $2,500 gift. John and Noodles want to thank Bob so so much.
Organizer
Dan Blair
Organizer
Morriston, ON