Eabametoong First Nation collaborates with partners on spay/neuter clinic

Tim Brody - Editor

A Spay/Neuter & Vaccine Clinic took place in Eabametoong First Nation from October 16 – 20, “part of Chief and Council and others’ ongoing efforts to address animal overpopulation as a path towards healing.”
Chief Sol Atlookan, Eabametoong (EFN) Council, other members of EFN staff and the community’s Restorative Justice Committee provided an update on the Spay/Neuter & Vaccine Clinic.
“At the clinic—176 total animals were seen by a veterinarian, 97 spay or neuter surgeries were undertaken, 79 wellness exams done, 348 vaccines were administered, and 40 dogs were transferred from EFN to adoption agencies. Adoption agencies outside of EFN have been supportive of the community’s efforts to control the animal population and have opened their doors wider to allow the movement of animals before the 2024 winter season arrives. A ‘Meet and Greet’ between the community and veterinarian team kicked-off the clinic and 600 lbs of donated dog food, supplies and toys were distributed. Youth and door-to-door engagement was also part of the event along with transports to the clinic site. Assistance was provided by Knight Shawinimash (Part-Time Animal Guardian) in the community along with other helpers,” the community shared.
Funded by Indigenous Services Canada—EFN was able to coordinate, with the Matawa Animal Services Pilot-Project, opportunities to work with partners and allies, including the following:
1.    Patty Lechten (and team) from the Global Alliance for Animals and People
2.    North Star Air
3.    Northern Reach Network (supplies, logistics, volunteers funded by the Lynn & Derrick March of the Zoey Foundation)
4.    Bark Bus (flights for dogs/food and $10,000 donation to community for dog houses)
5.    Almaguin Pet Rescues
6.    All Heart Pet Rescue
7.    Rescue 1
8.    Mattie’s Place
9.    Southern Connection
10.    Tails of the North
11.    New Collar Collective
12.    Gone Rogue Rescue
13.    Hopeful Tails
14.    Georgian Triangle Humane Society
15.    Safe Paws
16.    Second Chance Animal Sanctuary and Rescue
17.    Sarina and District Humane Society
“The clinic was part of Chief and Council and others’ ongoing efforts to address animal overpopulation as a path towards healing. A spay/neuter was organized last year which saw less than half the number of surgeries as this year’s.  On May 1, 2024, Chief and Council re-issued a responsible pet ownership by-law requiring pet owners to spay/neuter their animals. Next steps will include further education on humane animal population control, health/care of pets and building on the trust that has been established with partners and allies,” Matawa First Nations shared.
“We commend pet owners in Eabametoong First Nation who took the opportunity to participate in the recent Spay/Neuter & Vaccine Clinic.  Together, we are doing our part to bring our animal population down and to ensure their health, safety and wellbeing—and by extension, ours. We are grateful for the partners and allies who came together, and we will work to make this kind of clinic a regular annual event in our community. There are negative consequences to not being near veterinary services, animal supplies and resources and our community will not continue to be ignored,” stated Eabametoong First Nation Chief Sol Atlookan.