Manitoba funds more dog sterilizations in rural, remote areas

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This article was published 28/03/2024 (590 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government is funding the Winnipeg Humane Society to expand mobile spay-and-neuter clinics aimed at protecting residents of rural and remote communities from dog attacks.

“We’re very grateful for the funding,” society CEO Jessica Miller said Thursday.

“The funding will allow us to either go to additional areas we haven’t been able to get to or to go back to a core community to make a more long term impact.”

The humane society will get $100,000 to expand its One Health Program and $100,000 will support the efforts of Feed the Furbabies Canada to conduct spay-and-neuter clinics and ship food and supplies across the province.

Last year, the humane society’s mobile clinic examined 1,737 animals in 23 northern, remote and Indigenous communities. It performed 1,200 spay, neuter and implants.

Kareena Grywinski, Feed the Furbabies Canada executive director, said in a statement “these funds will be used to help broaden access to critical resources, like veterinary care, for pet owners across Manitoba.

“We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to further discussions and partnerships with the province.”

The humane society has lobbied for years for the provincial government to provide more funding to help with spay-and-neuter efforts to reduce the risk of human injury from roving packs of dogs and cut the need for dog culls.

Roseau River First Nation launched a dog cull this year because the number of stray dogs endangered the community. A person was authorized by the band council to perform the cull and community residents were warned to leash their pet dogs.

Miller said while the government funding is welcome, more needs to be done. She’s pleased the province has agreed to continue to discuss on the issue.

She said the humane society spends $600,000 on these efforts annually and it needs to be doubled to $1.2 million.

“It really is the tip of the iceberg for the funding that is required,” she said.

“We look forward to working with the province to put Manitoba on the map in terms of progressive and accessible care. We are committed to delivering community-led care to keep both people and their animals safe.”

The province is also creating a new provincial veterinarian position focused on animal welfare.

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said in a statement the position will complement the work of the chief veterinary officer, whose focus has shifted to the health of both commercial and companion animals.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca