An In Depth Look at Onsite, High Quality, Large Volume Spay and Neuter Clinics

OUR MISSION STATEMENT We partner with communities who request guidance, support, and resources to humanely manage their companion animal population, in order to improve the safety of their community and the well being of the animals.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO We are a volunteer based registered charity that provides large volume, on site MASH style spay and neuter clinics as well as community outreach support and guidance.

Countless unwanted dogs roam Alberta s First Nations due to uncontrolled breeding. The dogs can pose a risk to community members. Many are hit by cars, starve to death or die of disease.

COMMUNITY SAFETY First Nation children suffer from an inordinate amount of dog bites. According to Health Canada s First Nations Health Status Report, there has been an increase of 700% of reported dog bites since 2001. Three people have been mauled to death by dogs on Alberta's First Nations.

An intact female dog, her mate and the resulting offspring (if none were spayed/neutered) add up to 12,288 puppies in 5 years. Research shows that intact male dogs are involved in 70% to 76% of reported dog bite incidents.

GETTING STARTED In 2008, we made a presentation to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association requesting that a special category be created to provide high volume spay and neuter clinics that can be held in communities that are experiencing pet overpopulation issues. The ABVMA recognized the need for this type of clinic and created a license for a Temporary Veterinary Facility. We apply for a license for each clinic and must meet ABVMA standards in order to provide safe surgery for all of our patients.

START SMALL In the beginning, and while we were waiting for approval from the ABVMA, we held our clinics in a rented veterinary clinic in order to have the safety net of a fully equipped clinic. Our first on site clinic was in 2010. We provided surgery for 160 animals. It has taken many years to get to where we are now!

We also held drive to clinics where animals were driven to 6 clinics in southern Alberta

BUT DREAM BIG Since our inception we have purchased over $100,000 in surgical equipment to provide surgery for up to 430 animals in one weekend. We are funded by donations, grants, fundraising events, and by the communities we work with.

2016 CLINICS Clinics run April to October and are typically Friday to Sunday. This year (new) we have one clinic that is six days long and we will visit three communities. The clinics are held in the community, often in a school gym or community centre and are inclusive of community members. Wabasca April 8-10 th Kehewin Cree Nation May 6-8 th Maskwacis June 3-5 th Paul Band First Nation June 24-26 th Morley July 15-17 th Tsuut ina Nation August 19-21 st Fort McMurray Project Sept 8-13 th Saddle Lake Cree Nation Sept 30-Oct 2 nd

VOLUNTEERS We rely on over 120 volunteers per clinic. Anyone who is interested to get involved is directed to our website to fill out a volunteer application which is divided into three categories; A.General Volunteer B.Veterinary Technician C.Veterinarian

Medical Volunteers have the option of purchasing color coded scrub tops; Green = Veterinarian Blue = Vet Tech Grey = General Volunteer Purple = Leader Each clinic day we have about 15 vets, 20 techs and 85 general volunteers!

New this year we launched a Volunteer Management Program called Better Impact. Volunteers can be given access to volunteer based on their experience and education in a self schedule or admin schedule mode. Admin View Volunteer View

Orientations included with each position on Better Impact.

Other free online scheduling options; Volunteer Spot and Sign Up Genius www.volunteerspot.com www.signupgenius.com

PRE CLINIC Community Visits Accommodations Education Committee Fundraising Committee Weekly Pack Wrap Laundry Team Kitchen Team Inventory, Donations and Ordering Equipment Maintenance Scheduling & Recruiting Merchandise Truck Pack

SET UP Set up is from 9am-12pm on Friday and usually involves 25+ volunteers. Floors and tables are protected with tarps. Hundred of crates are put together.

Set-up with 10 surgery tables and 6 prep tables.

CLINIC FLOW Reception Physical Exams Grooming Sedation Surgery Prep Surgery Autoclaving Data Entry Recovery Discharge Separate from the gym; Cat Room Surrender Room Isolation Kitchen

KITCHEN Vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner (and snacks!) are provided each day. The food is amazing!

The morning starts with a team orientation in each area of the clinic.

ROUND UP Teams gather the free roaming dogs with the permission of the owners. We ask that the community provides assistance. Every animal that comes into the clinic has a consent form signed by a caretaker or guardian.

We strategically target those areas where dogs may pose a threat to community members such as schools

Our volunteers are experienced in humanely trapping feral or scared dogs and cats.

RECEPTION Round up teams deliver dogs and cats to reception where they are checked in. Paper ID tags are put on each animal, paperwork is taped to the top and each crate is numbered. Kennels are identified with appropriate flags; Pink/Blue = Male/Female Yellow = Medical Concern Red = Caution Green = Surrender Guardians can also bring their pets to the clinic for general registration

GROOMING Volunteer groomers will groom dogs. We seem many neglected dogs.

PHYSICAL EXAMS All dogs and cats receive a pre anesthetic health check to make sure they are healthy for surgery. They are weighed and have a topical dewormer (Advantage Multi) applied. Two exam teams which consist of a scribe, handler and veterinarian. Relinquished animals are also examined, vaccinated and dewormed and then they are transferred to the surrender room.

Medical cases are triaged and if needed transfer to the nearest emergency clinic.

CAT ROOM Cats are housed in a separate room that is quieter. Instead of flags they have colored coded tags that clip to the front of the kennel. Depending on the clinic location we will have 25-200 cats registered for surgery.

SEDATION The file is reviewed by a lead vet tech and each animal is sedated on a case by case basis. General protocols; Healthy- Hydro / Ace Health concern - Hydro only Caution - Domitor/Torb (pole) Cats - Domitor/Ketamine/Torb Care is taken that animals are sedated in a timely fashion and are closely monitored. Pediatrics are prewarmed with a BAIR Hugger.

SURGERY MEDS Medications are pre drawn up by a vet tech and placed on top the kennel for the surgery prep teams. Each syringe is labeled with an id sticker; Induction agent; Propofol or Ket/Val Marcaine line block for spays Long acting antibiotic Vaccines Pain Relief; Metacam Anitsedan (Domitor)

SURGERY PREP We run 6 surgery prep tables with 2 Registered Veterinary Technicians and often a 3rd student. Animals are; Induced Clipped and prepped for surgery Tattooed Given IV or SQ fluids if required Care is taken that animals are not waiting under anesthetic. A lead surgery tech sets the pace and directs cases.

Community members are encouraged to help and observe. Zayori and his brother have been coming to volunteer with their father for 6 years.

SURGERY 8-12 surgery tables running at one time. Each patient is monitored by a digital and human monitor. Vitals are recorded every 5 minutes. A vet tech (surgery lead) floats between the surgery tables to assist as needed.

AUTOCLAVING We have 95 surgery and 40 cat neuter packs and they are hand washed, then washed in an ultrasonic cleaner and autoclaved. We also have an eye and dental kit. We pack 100 gowns and upto 400 drapes for each clinic. Team members also meet twice a week at the office to prepare drapes and gowns packs.

RECOVERY Includes a team of 3 vet techs and 10-15 general volunteers. Lead Vet Tech, Cat Recovery Tech and a Discharge Lead Tech Vitals are closely monitored and patients are warmed with BAIR Huggers. Brushing and nail trimming. Caution or feral animals are recovered in their crates.

RECOVERY Cat Tent..a new idea

Guardians are encouraged to stay with their animals during recovery.

DATA ENTRY Medical records are scanned and a digital tattoo and surgery log are filled out. Health records, which include their vaccine and deworming history are made up to go home with the pet.

MEDS TGH In some cases additional medications are requested to be sent home. They are labeled with a prescription label, calendar of when meds are due and the crate is labeled with a purple flag in the clinic and the discharge lead RVT will give any meds required with they are at the clinic.

DISCHARGE All dogs and cats go home with aftercare instructions, pet food and a phone number they can call 24/7 for any concerns. Arrangements are made with local vet clinics for any after care resulting from surgery. Volunteers within the community can drive animals to nearby clinics.

SURRENDER ROOM Our group does our very best to place stray or relinquished animals with over 35 rescue groups that we work with. We have received up to 195 relinquished or stray dogs and cats at one clinic. Due to the generally high number of puppies and kittens. This room is treated like isolation. Only scheduled volunteers can enter and isolation protocols are in place (foot dip, gloves and gowns).

We care for up to 580 animals in one weekend.

The human animal bond is strong and we hope to assist community members own pets responsibly. Pets provide companionship for elders.

COMMUNITY BASED ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL PROGRAM We are currently working with one of our First Nation communities that has experienced significant dog bites and attacks in order to assist them with a new program that consists of: Legislation: By laws and enforcement Registration: Collars and tags Education: Adult and Children Accessible Spay and Neuter Program Rehoming impounded or stray animals

EDUCATION Our new Education Committee is working towards a curriculum based program for First Nation schools as well as adult education that addresses dog bite prevention and basic pet care.

DOES IT WORK? YES! The number of relinquished or stray dogs and cats we receive at our clinics diminishes every time we return to a community. We found that the smaller communities only require one clinic per year. Teachers, RCMP members, health workers and community leaders have noticed a reduction in dog bites, nuisance calls, and dog packs. There is a visible difference in the number of free roaming dogs in the community The animal control facility in Wabasca has noticed a significant reduction in impounded dogs. Many impounded dogs are tattooed and can be reunited with their owners. Sometimes the pound is empty! We have had to decline invitations from new communities.

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS The communities that we work with are: Bigstone Cree First Nation/M.D. of Opportunity, Maskwacis, Siksika Nation, Piikani First Nation, Blood Tribe First Nation, Saddle Lake Cree Nation, and Onion Lake Cree Nation

Questions? Contact Us.. RJ Bailot rjbailot@abtaskforce.org Jackie Lind medicalvolunteers@abtaskforce.org