Free vet clinics popular in remote areas

A Regina veterinarian says a special program to provide free spaying and neutering services for animals in remote communities is crucial to controlling stray dogs, especially in light of recent tragedies in northern Saskatchewan.

In January, Keith Iron, 10, died after he was attacked by roaming dogs in the community of Canoe Lake.

In September 2009 in Ile--la-Crosse, also in the north,six-year-old Shiloh Berscheidneeded extensive medical treatment, including 60 stitches, following a dog attack.

"What we're seeing is a group of animals that have a place in the community but unfortunately without sterilization or population control, it gets out of hand," Dr. Lesley Sheppard, a Regina veterinarian, told CBC News in an interview.

Sheppard is one of the people behind Remote Area Veterinary Services, which relies on donations to pay for trips to Saskatchewan's north.

Sheppard says the problem of animal control is apparent as soon as she arrives.

"When you get out of your car, you'll have four or five dogs come up to your car and start sniffing you," Sheppard recalls from one trip. "And there are dogs everywhere.If you stand and look, you could probably see 20 to 30 dogs at any one time."

Sheppard and her colleagues have been to various communities in the north to conduct free clinics in whatever space works for the procedures.

On one visit to Sandy Bay she set up in a local high school.

She says they can work on about 60 dogs a day.

They also work with children, teaching youngsters how to avoid dog bites.

Each trip costs around $3,000.

The next visit north is scheduled for May.