25 Indian Brook dogs neutered in effort to control population

There will be fewer dogs running around Indian Brook in years to come after 25 of the community's male canines were neutered this week.

"It was the best thing that our reserve has ever done for animals," says Anna Paul, who volunteers as the community's contact withMarley'sHope Dog Rescue.

The non-profit group organized the free clinic at the request of Sipekne'katikFirst Nation to reduce the dog population and keep pets healthy.Dogs, many of them pitbull and rottweiler mixed breeds, roam the area.

"It's a big problem," says Paul, who lives on the reserve.

The neutered dogs were microchipped,treated for fleas andvaccinated.

Marley'sHope Dog Rescuehas also removed about 80 dogs from the reserve since the summer, said Darlene Grady-Lunn, who runs the organization. The dogs are sent to foster homes and adopted.

'They went over an above'

The group is run by volunteers who are offering services for free. Neutering costs would be much higher in a veterinary clinic, Grady-Lunn said, and even more for females.

"Today was just large males, in January we are going to be doing the large females," said Grady-Lunn.

Because the surgery takes less time for the males, they can do more of those procedures, she says.

"If they are microchipped and they end up roaming, we'll know who their families are so we can reunite them," said Grady-Lunn.

Marley's Hope has a contract with Sipekne'katikFirst Nation for at least a year.

"People are so appreciative of Marley's Hope," says Paul, adding that the group has donated vans full of dog food to distribute to the community.

They also have given out about 10 free dog houses that were built by volunteers, says Paul.

"They went over and above, it's really impressive."