NWT SPCA executive director Nicole Spencer was busy at work at the Chief Daniel Sonfrere adult learning centre during the last week of July.
"We're having a spay neuter clinic here," Spencer explained. "It is the first spay neuter clinic that has been here."
It's a free clinic to the people in K'atl'odeeche First Nation. To no one's surprise it seems, they're getting plenty of attention.
"People have been dropping in for wellness checks in the afternoon with their pet, but we do have appointments that we've scheduled every day for spays and neuters, so our schedule is pretty full."
Spencer explained she and her colleagues were on the reserve in April for their visit, having been invited by the K'atl'odeeche council. They then chose K'atl'odeeche for one of their long-term programs.
Other than doing spays and neuters for people's pets, Spencer explained they also vaccinated animals and visited people's homes back in April. They've been planning for a week-long clinic since then.
Now that they're there, it's been well-received. Spencer said their average has been 11 to 12 surgeries a day. With a staff of fewer than 10 people, it's a lot of work, said Spencer. She noted they only have one operating table, so only one surgery can happen at a time.
"We're all well organized and work well together, so it's all good," Spencer said. "All of us are animal people so don't sweat the small stuff. It's the way we roll."
She added that the facility they work out of has been fantastic.
"Seeing people come in at this clinic with their pet that they love so much, and at the end of the day, coming and getting the pet and knowing that we did everything we could to help her or him and that we're giving them back a very healthy pet SA国际影视传媒� and we know that they're not going to reproduce is really rewarding for all of us."
Spencer noted the overpopulation of dogs is a big problem in many places around the NWT. When the SPCA team can help decrease that, and make communities healthier by doing so, that's what's most rewarding.
