Cat and dog overpopulation in the Anahim Lake community was tackled through a recent partnership.
Mark Collett, marketing director for the Cariboo Country Mobile Veterinary Services (CCMVS) calls the partnership between them and the Ulkatcho First Nation and BC SPCA a success.
“We also brought home around 10 animals that are in the process of being re-homed right now as well as pets out there that didn’t have owners that found homes as we were spaying and neutering them just with residents of the community.”
Collett says they were contacted by the Ulkatcho First Nation who wanted help in controlling their companion animal population.
BC SPCA outreach coordinator Megan Munroe says through their grant program they were able to award CCMVS $3,000 dollars to fix 20 cats and $8,100 to fix 35 dogs.
“We do cover the entire province but we don’t physically have branches located everywhere so it’s only the real way we address the cat overpopulation crisis by everyone joining together.”
“Huge disparities in access to affordable spay/neuter services exist throughout the province.”
CCMVS says they hope to add one to two more veterinarians to their team, as there appears to be a demand for veterinary services in many smaller B.C. communities, where services aren’t readily available and that other First Nations, including Dog Creek, have been in touch with them.
The next application period for 2016 BC SPCA Community Animal Spay/Neuter Legacy Grants will open on Oct. 30. To find out more about the benefits of fixing your pet, as well as low-cost options and grants offered by the BC SPCA, visit spayneuter.ca.