Territory to help pay for spaying female dogs in rural Yukon

The Yukon government has launched a program to help rural Yukonerscoverthe cost of spaying female dogs.

The new "Community Dog Spay Project" will contribute $250 towards thecost of spaying adog, but onlyin rural communities. Dog owners in Whitehorse do not qualify for the subsidy.

The government has also launched a "community care initiative"under which the animal health unit will offer support for communities dealing with problem dogs.

Yukon's chiefveterinarian, MaryVanderkop,says the new initiativescame about because the animal protection program was transferred from the department of community services to the animal health unit at Environment Yukon.

"The impetus came from the transfer of the animal protection programs into the animal health unit a little over a year ago," Vanderkop said.

"As part of the evaluation of the past program, we looked at the spay/neuter voucher project that had been administered by Humane Society Yukon, looking to find ways to improve on that."

Environment Yukon says the new program is not a response to the death of Shane Glada, last fall in Ross River. In May, Yukon's coroner revealed that the 22-year-oldhad been killed by roaming dogs.

Limited to 115applicants

Vanderkop says the new spay project, which launched on Monday, is limitedand the subsidy will be given to the first 115 applicants.

She says spaying female dogs is the most cost-effective method to decrease the number of unwanted puppies and reduce aggressive behaviour among male dogs when females are in heat.

The Ross River Dena Council had been planning to hold a spay and neuter clinic in the community in early summer, butthat has been postponed until the fall.