Northern Sask. communities grapple with feral dog populations

WATCH: Saving Grace Animal Society says it recently worked with community members in La Loche to collect over 100 dogs, after learning of a potential cull.

Northern Saskatchewan communities are joining forces to tackle the issue of dog population control.

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth from the University of Saskatchewan’s Western Veterinary College Northern Engagement and Community Outreach Program says the issue of dog population control in communities isolated from veterinary care is complex.

“It’s also a really common thing in northern communities for dogs to be out loose and running about and kind of socializing with their friends. And that’s not always seen across the board as a bad thing, especially if dogs are good citizens.”

Unfortunately, not all dogs are good citizens. Difficult-to-manage populations pose an immediate threat to the safety of humans and pets.

“Some of the dog challenges that, you know, we hear about is people being very judgmental,” said Woodsworth. “I’ll say for sure that no community arrives at any one dog management option without a whole heck of a lot of thought and consideration before.”

The Northern Engagement and Community Outreach Program provides veterinary health clinics and some sterilization services to isolated communities, but the project has limited resources.

Saving Grace Animal Society says it recently worked with community members in La Loche to collect over 100 dogs when it heard of a potential cull. A Facebook post from the village said it is grateful and very appreciative that they were willing to do this.

“It’s unfortunate that that was the action that they had to take,” said Saving Grace executive director Erin Deems. “But when the community members and children are at risk, we understand that something has to be done. And we’re glad that we were able to be there and support them to have a better outcome.”

Woodsworth says homegrown solutions present a more sustainable form of dog management for communities without veterinary care.

“Enoch Cree Nation is one of the ones that has had some really good, efforts made in terms of how they’re managing their dog populations and how they’re doing that from folks who are from the community themselves.”

She says the Village of La Loche had previously identified a need for support and has been in contact with her team.

They’ve worked to set up a veterinary wellness clinic for later this month. The Village of La Loche said in a Facebook post that it wants to emphasize the clinic’s sterilizing service for male dogs.

CTV reached out to the Village of La Loche. Representatives were unavailable for interview.