'Amazing dog lovers' come together to offer vet services for First Nations dogs

A Manitobadog-rescue group held a spay and neuter clinic that fixed and vaccinated 80 dogs from eight southern Manitoba First Nations communities over the weekend.

Save A Dog Network Canada worked with other local rescue groups to pick up the animals and bring them to a mobile veterinary clinic that was set up near Treherne, Man., about 115 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

"It's the first that we know of where we've had multiple adopting rescues, multiple First Nations, multiple vets It's been a huge collaborative of amazing dog lovers," said Katie Powell, director of Save A Dog Network.

It's the first time the rescue group has attempted an event of this scale. The clinic had the help of five veterinarians, eight veterinary technicians, and 25 volunteers from various dog rescue groups. They also received donations of medicineand supplies.

Some of the dogs were brought in from as far as BerensRiver, Man., about 275 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Dogs also were brought in from Pine Creek, Sandy Bay, Peguis, Waywayseecappo, Canupawakpa and Birdtail First Nations.

Powell says all of the dogs that were fixed are owned, andthe goals of clinic were to keep them from having unwanted puppies and hopefully reduce the number of dogs ending up sick and homeless. She says fixing the dogs also makes communities safer.

"These unwanted puppies are continuously being born. These animals are truly affecting our First Nationscommunities in Manitoba. Children cannot play safely outside their homes, families cannot walk to the store [for] groceries without packs of dogs [around them]," she said.

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Powell said many of the dogs were from communities that don't have easy access to vet care. She said someowners can't afford the procedure, or don't have means to transport their dogs.

"Lots of them don't drive, they have young children we really wanted to provide these community members with what they need and one of the biggest is getting the transportation," said Powell.

Dog owners paid $100 for a checkup, vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, nail trim, identification tattooand a new collar. Typically, spay or neuter surgery can cost anywhere from $200 to $500, Powell said.

She saidby working with other rescues, who already have relationships with the communities, they were able to identify which dogs were in need and coordinate transportation.

"We were able to bring in way more dogs and help a multitude of First Nations and not just isolate one community," said Powell.

Mobile dog clinic helps 80 dogs

8 years ago

Duration 2:35

A mobile dog clinic set up in Treherne Manitoba fixed 80 dogs in 3 days.

Setting up a clinic comes with red tape

Powellsaid there have been similar clinics on some remote First Nationsin the past, but transporting vets and supplies to them can be difficult.

She sayssetting up temporary clinics can also be difficult because of regulations.

Arule, put in place bythe Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association,says a temporary clinic cannot set up in a community unless it has permission from all vets within a 250-kilometre radius.

"The problem with that is when you have a clinic that wants to happen anhour or two away [from Winnipeg], you're asking every vet clinic in Winnipeg. It's very overwhelming," said Powell.

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In order to get around that rule, the group used a mobile vet clinic built inside a trailer. It's owned by Rebecca Zettler, one of the vets who volunteered her services and equipment for the clinic.

The trailer is licensed as a mobile clinic, so the 250-kilometrerule does not apply.

Jonas Watson, a volunteer vet with the event, says the rule has posed a challenge for temporary clinics in the past.

"It makes it hard for well-intentioned rescue groups to run clinics like this," said Watson.

TheVeterinary Associationsays the rule is there as a courtesy to other vets in the area, but also as a meansof ensuring regulations are followed. They say the rule is currently under review and that providing access to veterinary care in remote andunder-servicedareas is a priority.

Watson says without rescue groups taking on initiatives like this, many dogs would not get fixed and many more unwanted animals would end up being born and needing care.

"I hope that people at large hear the message and we can see some advocacy on the part of governments and animal welfare groups to really step up the way they can help First Nations communities in the province," he said.