Dog Mauling Prompts Call For Sterilization Program

Dog Mauling Prompts Call For Sterilization Program

Tuesday, February 02, 2010 at 15:20

A provincial politician from northern Saskatchewan says he would like to see a government-sponsored spay and neutering program return to the north.

Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger says he is deeply sorry for the tragic dog mauling death of a 10-year-old boy in Canoe Lake.

Belanger says northern communities have lots of responsibilities and not a lot of resources to work with — so they focus on the big issues, and don’t have any money left to deal with matters like controlling the dog population.

He notes, just a few years ago, veterinarians from the University of Saskatchewan visited communities like Ile a’la Crosse to fix dogs in the area.

Belanger says the program made a good deal of sense as most northerners can’t afford the surgery for their animals.

He says, in the meantime, communities may have to shoot whatever animals they feel are a threat to their children.