Pearl Lorentzen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader

Residents of Wabasca, Calling Lake, Sandy Lake, Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Red Earth Creek, and Chipewyan Lake can bring their dogs to Wabsaca on Oct. 3 to have them spayed or neutered for free. This is open to people living in M.D. of Opportunity hamlets or on Bigstone Cree Nation and Peerless First Nation reserves.

The M.D and Bigstone partnered with the Canadian Animal Task Force to offer this free clinic. Animals are dropped off on Friday, Oct. 3 and picked up Sunday, Oct. 5. The exact times weren’t decided by press time, but the M.D. and Bigstone will advertise them when known.

The task force focuses on Indigenous communities in Alberta. Throughout the years, Bigstone and the M.D. have continued to support the task force. The task force was in Wabasca in 2021.

M.D. Councillor Darlene Jackson sent an email a couple of years ago to find out when the task force could come again, and has followed up since. Earlier this year, she received the Oct dates.

“We’re really happy about that,” says Jackson, “because it’s such a problem.”

The M.D. pound is struggling to keep up, she adds, and it can be hard on the dogs. A puppy can have puppies when it is nine months old. The event also includes education.
The M.D. and Bigstone each made a $7,500 donation to help facilitate the clinic.

The clinic will be in the George D. Auger Memorial Hall in Wabasca. Volunteer vets are needed and also community members to help with the animals and food for the volunteers. The organizers provide breakfast and lunch at the hall for the volunteers.

For more information about times, contact Jackson at 780-891-7900. To volunteer, contact Shannon Cunningham at volunteers@cataskforce.org or 403-830-9644.