Notes from the field: Alberta, April 2008
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Across Canada, First Nations communities are struggling to cope with the problem of dog overpopulation and abandoned animals. It’s an issue we’re passionately working to address at WSPA Canada.
We are working with First Nations communities and animal welfare organizations to develop a national strategy to help the dogs in these communities, and along with our member societies are giving dog owners much-needed resources like low-cost vet care and tips on responsible pet ownership.
WSPA has been providing funding to our Member Society the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force to work in the Kainiawa First Nation and help the dogs there.
As the project manager, I get really excited when I can see the "action on the ground," and I recently visited a WSPA-funded clinic that they held.
A fantastic response
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The community response to the clinic was incredible, and in one day 87 dogs and cats were sterilized and just over 30 were found new homes. It’s a huge success that means literally hundreds of unwanted litters were prevented.
On the day of the clinic, volunteers went door-to-door to almost 200 homes educating people about sterilization and picking up the animals to be treated.
The children were especially interested and came up to ask me, “Where are all of the animals going?” They seemed happy with my explanation about the importance of sterilization but were sure to check the truck one more time to make sure their furry friends were safe.
Engaging with the community
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When we returned to our home base, the community arena, there were over 100 people and their pets waiting! After scrambling to find more surgery release forms and saving a terrified cat from underneath a parked car, I was able to speak one-on-one with members of the community. Many people explained that they love and care for their pets but just can’t afford to get them sterilized.
One man told me: “My wife and I feed dogs from the community because they don’t have homes. But we also have our own dog, Buddy. We want to make sure he is fixed because we don’t want to contribute to the problem."
Buddy was sterilized, but unfortunately we had to turn away many dogs and cats that day.
Without enough funding or volunteer vets, we had to make some tough decisions. It was difficult, but I felt better knowing the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force was already planning the next clinic, and that WSPA’s national strategy would have a positive impact in the long run.
-Josey Kitson
See Josey's photo album from the clinic >>
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