15°c Overcast
11°c Cloudy with clear breaks
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Clinic snips stray dogs: Cancer survivor fulfils dream
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal performs spay and neuter operations in her mobile vet clinic on the Sagkeeng First Nation.
Related Items
-
Columns
SAGKEENG FIRST NATION -- Cathie Mieyette was on her death bed when she was inspired to tackle the stray-dog problem on Manitoba First Nations communities. She was in hospital receiving aggressive chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant in her third bout with cancer.
You might expect her to be depressed and thinking only of herself. Instead, she was thinking about the many dogs at Winnipeg rescue shelters that have to be euthanized because they don't have homes.
"I thought if I live, I want to do something for dogs in the rescue world. I saw where a lot of them are coming from. They're coming in from reserves. So I picked Sagkeeng as a reserve to work with," she said.
On Monday, Mieyette, two years removed from her cancer treatment and feeling "amazing," opened the first mobile spay-and-neuter clinic ever tried in Manitoba, on Sagkeeng First Nation, about 110 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
The first customer? A male German shepherd cross that wandered in "without an appointment" just before the doors opened at 8 a.m. "It was funny. He was like, 'Am I first?' "
The Spay and Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP) uses a mobile unit housed in a large trailer at the Sagkeeng bingo hall. It is operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, as well.
The mobile unit belongs to veterinarian Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal, who is performing the surgeries. She is based in Ashern, where she's more accustomed to delivering doggies -- i.e., calves.
As of Monday morning, Sagkeeng residents had already scheduled 23 dogs for surgery.
The first time Mieyette drove into Sagkeeng, she counted 35 dogs running loose on the road and in ditches. She would transport Sagkeeng dogs to Winnipeg for surgeries -- 75 were treated -- before she learned of mobile unit veterinary clinics.
Mieyette has held bake sales, silent auctions, and a Snipping It In the Bud, Spud, and Steak Night to raise funds. People bringing in their dogs to be spayed or neutered are only asked to make a donation. The program is run independently of the Winnipeg Humane Society.
"We needed the help. It was good they came in," said Sagkeeng Chief Donovan Fontaine. "We've always had issues with the dog population and stray dogs."
The band is trying to control the dog population before a child is mauled, like what has happened on some reserves, Fontaine said. Band constables have had to shoot dogs in the past.
The council hopes to have every dog spayed or neutered. It is also running a public awareness campaign about controlling the dog population, said Fontaine. He added some of community members have been taking it upon themselves in recent years to pick up stray dogs and take them into Winnipeg, either to get spayed or neutered or to put them up for adoption.
Mieyette said she hopes enforcement takes root at Sagkeeng and other reserves. "We want a control reserve with a bylaw enforcement so there are not a million dogs being born on the reserve," Mieyette said.
As for strays, Mieyette said SNIP will first try to find an owner. If not, it will snip-snip with efforts made to find the dog a home. Local residents have also been on the watch for stray dogs as candidates for surgery.
Mieyette said she is not aboriginal, although she is distantly Métis, and has no family connection to Sagkeeng.
Cats can also have the surgery but owners have to pay.
-- with file from Geoff Kirbyson
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 26, 2013 A6
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 31 articles for today)
PST hike a 'difficult decision' but necessary, NDP official says
12:33 PM 0View Related
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- Systemic approach to voter interference 'extremely worrisome': Trudeau
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- Overnight stabbings probed
- Armed forces buys buses from Motor Coach
- Selinger talks tax at NDP convention in Brandon
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Youth faces murder charge in Pauingassi First Nation death
- Charges laid against Sharon Home over resident's death
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- City's first urban reserve born
- Toews 'disappointed' U.S., Canada at loggerheads over meat labeling regulations
- Unjust justice: Still no aboriginal court in Manitoba
- Islamic life showcased
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.