The Task Force is proud to say that we held our first on-site spay and neuter clinics in 2010. The clinics were held in community centres with the assistance of community members.

Blood Tribe First Nation Pet Wellness Clinic:

• 160 animals were sterilized, vaccinated, tattooed, and treated for parasites.
• 24 puppies were vaccinated as well as de-wormed and examined by vets.
• 94 unwanted dogs or cats were placed with rescue groups to be re-homed.

Siksika Nation Pet Wellness Clinic:

• 177 animals were sterilized, vaccinated, tattooed, and treated for parasites.
• 12 puppies were vaccinated as well as de-wormed and examined by vets.
• 107 unwanted dogs or cats were placed with rescue groups to be re-homed.

Our clinics are part of the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine external rotation. Veterinary students volunteer in order to gain hands on experience and they provide a very valuable contribution towards our success.

With gratitude to:

• ARF
• Blood Tribe First Nation
• Community Spirit Program
• Donner Canadian Foundation
• PetSmart Charities
• Siksika Justice Department
• The Barking Lot
• The United Way
• The World Society for the Protection of Animals
• Our special individual donors

We couldn’t have done it without the assistance of the many veterinarians and animal health technicians who provided outstanding veterinary care.

And what would we do without the support of the following rescue groups who place so many unwanted dogs or cats from our clinics in their forever homes:

Alberta Animal Rescue Crew
ARF
Bow Valley SPCA
Calgary Humane Society
Cochrane and Area Humane Society
Misty Creek Dog Rescue
Pawsitive Match Rescue
Pets For Life
Pound Rescue
Prairie Dog Canine Rescue

Special thanks to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association for their support and for recognizing the importance of this type of clinic.

And to our amazing volunteers!!!

Our next clinics will be in the spring of 2011.

October 2010

On the weekend of September 30 to October 3rd, the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force held an on-site pet wellness clinic for the Siksika Nation at the Siksika Community Centre. A total of 177 animals were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, tattooed, and treated for parasites by our amazing medical team.

There were 11 veterinarians, 6 animal health technicians, and over 60 volunteers who assisted at the clinic. Many University of Calgary veterinary students examined dogs or cats and provided assistance to our surgical team. The event was a huge success and is a step towards reducing the many unwanted or stray dogs that roam the community. Special thanks to Melanie Black, Siksika Animal Control Officer, who spent long hours planning the clinic, working all weekend, and providing direction to the volunteers. Thanks again to RJ Bailot for finding places for the 95 (!) unwanted animals that required re-homing.

The following rescue groups kindly accepted the many stray or surrendered animals:

Alberta Animal Rescue Crew
ARF
Bow Valley SPCA
Calgary Humane Society
Misty Creek Dog Rescue
Pawsitive Match Rescue
Pets For Life
Pound Rescue

Our thanks to these groups for providing veterinary care for sick or injured dogs and placing the dogs or cats in their forever homes.

Funding for the clinic was provided by the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and the Siksika Justice Department.

Our gratitude to WSPA, PetSmart Charities and the Donner Canadian Foundation for providing funding for surgical equipment.

September 2009

We are so happy to say that our September 2009 Blood Tribe Pet Wellness Clinic was a success. 126 dogs or cats were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites and tattooed. An additional 52 dogs were examined by veterinarians as well as vaccinated and treated for parasites at our Vaccination Clinic. A total of 68 dogs or cats were placed with our wonderful rescue group partners. We were also able to help an additional 2 dogs who tangled with porcupines. We couldn’t have done it without the help of our own special group of very dedicated volunteers.
and students from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Animal Welfare Groups:

Alberta Animal Rescue Crew (AARC)
Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)
Calgary Humane Society
Cochrane and Area Humane Society
Heaven Can Wait
Home Safe Animal Rescue
Misty Creek Dog Rescue
Paws and Claws Rescue
Pound Rescue
Prairie Dog Canine Rescue

Special thanks to:
 Muriel Bullshields, our community liaison for the Blood Tribe First Nation
Lloyd Stewart, Community Peace Officer for the Town of Cardston, for the use of the animal control facility and Dr. Andy Strang for his patience. Pound Rescue for fixing the dogs that we just couldn't fit in.

Clinic Manager: Tammy Mazubert, AHT

Lead Vet: Dr. Kathy Hilland, DVM

Veterinarians: Drs. Mollie Ferris, Wendy McClelland, Audrey Remedios, Janie Rushton and Cathy Waters

Animal Health Technicians: Erin Heck, Ellen Kovar, Janet Nielson, Jasmine Mostaghel, Alma P., Sheila Rambousek, andTony Stevens

Funding:
Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)
Blood Tribe Chief and Council
PetSmart Charities
Heather Waddell
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) 

 Special Visitors:

Chantelle Cardinal, First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group (TSAG)
Dwayne Eagle Child, Mascwacis Health Services and his family
Leonard Standing on the Road, Councillor, Montana First Nation

Medication Donations:
Bayer Animal Health
Wyeth Animal Health

Volunteer Caterers:
“The Bailot Sisters”: Melissa and Genina

Lanyards:
Canadian Natural Resources Limited

Accommodation:
Outpost Motel

And last but not least, thanks so much to the Calgary Humane Society for the use of their surgical equipment, van and for donating pet food.

 July 2009

  We are proud to say that our Blood Tribe Pet Wellness Clinic was a huge success with a total of 104 dogs or cats sterilized, 52 dogs vaccinated and treated for parasites, and 66 dogs or cats rescued through the kind assistance of the many animal welfare groups who help us out. We couldn’t have done it without the 46 volunteers who worked so hard in the snowy weather.

Funding was provided by:

Thank-you to Wyeth Animal Health and Bayer Animal Health for the donations of medical supplies.

We’re grateful to the Calgary Humane Society for lending us surgical equipment, a van and donating pet food.

Our sincere appreciation to:

Lead Vet:
  Dr. Kathy Hilland
Veterinary Clinic Manager:
  Tammy Mazubert, AHT
Veterinarians:
  Drs. Jagit Cheema, Kent Fenton, Glen Jones, Roberto Martinez, Janie Rushton, Lise Tellier, Martha Toy and Cathy Waters
Animal Health Technicians:
  Heidi Craig, Sonja Gavora, Erin Heck, Jessica Lepage, Janet Nieilson and Tony Stevens. 
Autoclaver Extraordinaire:
  Donna Prince

Muriel Bullshields, our Blood Tribe community contact.

Dr. Andy Strang for the use of Foothills Vet Clinic and for his patience and great sense of humour.

Melissa Bailot for the yummy food and Sherri MacDonald for her home baking.

We were happy to meet with Chantelle Cardinal from First Nations (Alberta) Technical Services Advisory Group (TSAG), and Dwayne Eagle Child from Maskwacis Health Services.

Thanks to Josey Kitson from WSPA for coming all the way from Toronto to volunteer at the clinic.

The following animal welfare groups all helped in so many ways to make the clinic a success:

Photographer
  Devra Brick
Videographer
  Sebastian Salazar

September 2008

On the weekend of September 27, 2008, 6 veterinarians, 4 Animal Health Technicians, 44 volunteers and 9 rescue groups came together to assist with the Blood Tribe Dog Wellness Clinic. A whopping total of 63 dogs were spayed or neutered, another 51 dogs were vaccinated and 78 homeless animals were placed with rescue groups.

Dr. Kathy Hilland was the inspiration for the clinic and Tammy Mazubert, AHT, was the Veterinary Clinic Coordinator. Both worked long hours under extremely busy conditions.

We are so grateful to Drs. Jay Cheema, Kathy Hilland, Audrey Remedios, Andy Strang, Martha Toy and Cathy Waters. Animal Health Technicians Ellen Kovar, Jessica LePage, Tammy Mazubert, and Susan Wolfe worked tirelessly.

Dr.Andy Strang provided the use of his clinic, Foothills Veterinary Clinic in Cardston, AB.

The Calgary Humane Society kindly provided the use of their surgical equipment and donated supplies.

Rabiesand other vaccines were donated by Wyeth Animal Health. Thank-youso much Heidi Craig for facilitating this.

Cardston Animal Control provided housing for some of the animals. Thank-you to Lloyd Stewart.

Catering was provided by Melissa Bailot. Thanks, Melissa!

Funding was provided by the Animal Rescue Foundation of Alberta (ARF), the Office of the Chief of the Blood Tribe First Nation and the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force.

Rescue groups from Southern Alberta who assisted us with the many homeless animals are: Alberta Animal Rescue Crew, ARF Alberta, Heaven Can Wait, Home Safe Animal Rescue, Misty Creek Dog Rescue, No Kill Alliance,Pawsitive Match Rescue, Pound Rescue and Prairie Dog Rescue.

The event was truly a group effort. So many people worked so hard and the Task Force is forever grateful for your help.

 April 2008

Our April, 2008 Standoff Pet Wellness Clinic was a huge success!

Eighty-five dogs or cats were “fixed”. We are so thankful to the 39 volunteers who helped us make it happen.

We would also like to thank the following veterinary clinics who participated in our event: Claresholm Veterinary Services, Diamond Valley Veterinary Clinic, Eastern Slopes Veterinary Services, Foothills Veterinary Clinic, Fort Macleod VeterinaryClinic, High River Veterinary Clinic, Highview Veterinary Clinic, Raymond Veterinary Clinic and Southpointe Pet Hospital.

So many rescue groups helped us with the 32 dogs that were surrendered. We would like to thank: the Animal Rescue Foundation, Calgary Humane Society, Pawsitive Match Rescue, Pincher Creek Humane Society, Pound Rescue and Prairie Dogs Rescue for accepting these animals and ensuring that they go on to loving homes.

 May 2008

At our May Standoff Dog Wellness Clinic, 29 dogs were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed and tattooed at Claresholm Veterinary Services, Diamond Valley Veterinary Clinic, High River Veterinary Clinic and Uplands Pet Hospital,

Thank you would be an understatement for the amazing work and dedication from everyone involved.

The event would not have been a success without the help of the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). Thank-you, ARF, for sponsoring the clinic and taking in 16 surrendered dogs. We know that these lucky dogs will go on to great homes.

We are also thankful to Pawsitive Match Rescue, Prairie Dogs Rescue, Alberta Animal Rescue Crew (AARC) and the Cochrane and Area Humane Society for accepting the many homeless dogs.

Thank-you to the staff members from the Calgary Humane Society for volunteering and helping us out with transporting dogs and delivering food.

We can’t forget to mention the dedication from Church and Deanna from AARC who drove all the way to Standoff to find themselves quickly returning to Calgary with an injured dog that required emergency veterinarian care. Sheri (the dog) has now found herself with a second chance at life in the AARC rescue program.

Muriel Bullshields is adriving force behind these events; we couldn’t do it without her help and support. Thank you, Muriel, for your kind heart and hard work!

Our next clinic is planned for September 26-28th, 2008.

Many thanks to our donors: Chief Charles Weasel Head and Councillors from the Blood Tribe First Nation, The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Best Friends Animal Society, Heather Waddell, Brian and Eileen Easton and the Animal Rescue Foundation(ARF).