Petition to end Manitoba dog culls grows

A call to end dog culls in remote Manitoba communities is getting strong support.

Trooper's Law is the name of a petition to end dog culls aftera dog was shot in the face and left injured for days to die. It calls for an end tothe practice of shooting dogs in remote communities as a way to control populations.

Yvonne Russell with Paw Tipsters,a non-profitcharity working withCrime Stoppers to stop animal abuse,said an online petition launched by her group has reached 8,000 signatures.

Oncethe petition hits 10,000, Russell intendsto take it to government officials and demandan end to the culls. She is also calling for more funding for First Nations tobring in veterinarians to hold spay and neuter clinics.

"They're secluded and they're going to need to have to pay to have people come up there, veterinarians and that sort of thing, to come and help take care of the population," she said.

Russell will also present the petition to First Nations leaders.

The issue of dog culls was thrust into the media spotlightat the start of the month, in the wake of Trooper's death.

At that time, David Harper, the grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak,an organization of regional chiefs for much of northern Manitoba, said the culls in some First Nation communities are necessary for safety reasons.

"When you live in a remote community, its often dogs overpopulate," he said.

"Its for the safety of the children and the community."