A popular legacy item from A&W Canada made a long-awaited comeback this week after nearly half a decade of appeals and adjuration from its biggest fans. Since it disappeared from the A&W menu in 2017, The Whistle Dog managed to grow one of the most dedicated followings in the fast food chain’s history, largely thanks to a petition from a pair of Calgary radio hosts.
Fans of Wild 953 Calgary were issued a call to action by morning radio show hosts Bo Gordon and Jess Hoy, and since that fateful day, thousands of Whistle Dog supporters from across Canada have signed their petition.
“The Whistle Dog has always been there when I needed it most. And now, more than ever, I need the Whistle Dog. It’s been there on the best of hangovers and the worst of hangovers. It’s been there when I worked through most of my lunch break and made the decision to hop in my vehicle and go to A&W for a little bit of heaven,” the radio hosts say in the petition.
“It’s been there when my bag of spring mix that I totally intended on using to make a salad goes bad and I know the Whistle Dog will save dinner. Now more than ever I need that bag of comfort. I can’t wait to whisper into the drive through mic, ‘I‘ll take a Whistle Dog combo with onion rings and a Diet Coke please!’”
The Whistle Dog will be available at A&W locations across Canada for a limited time. A&W will also be releasing a documentary about the food item’s cult following featuring the two radio hosts on August 12.