A strong gust of wind blew through the parking lot of the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter Thursday afternoon, causing about $350 in damage.

Steve Parker, an administrative assistant at the Humane Society Yukon, which runs the shelter, witnessed the event.

At about 3:15 p.m.,, a customer at the counter indicated for him to look outside.

"I turned ‘round to look out the window and all I could see was just dust and things being blown along,” he said. "It was right against the window, and slammed the window shut on me.”

Parker compared the phenomenon to what he has seen in movies and documentaries about wild weather.

The whole event lasted for only a minute, and soon after, Parker went outside to check out the damage.

The only thing missing was a tent, which sheltered miscellaneous items to be sold at an upcoming garage sale. None of the items – which included children's foam toys – were out of place.

The tent, however, had ended up in a neighbouring yard, approximately 60 metres from its original location.

Others who witnessed the event told Parker the wind had lifted the tent over the shelter building and dropped it in the next yard over, "fortunately missing every thing and every one in there,” he said.

The society estimates it will cost $350 to replace the tent.

This is not the first time the society has been the centre of blustery activity.

About three weeks ago, a similar wind gust blew through the parking lot, tossing empty animal crates and removing dust and gravel from the area.