PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG
A veterinarian's visit to Pangnirtung this week is being received "paws-itively" by both the hamlet's two- and four-legged residents.
Sola, an Alaskan Malamute, is one of Pangnirtung's furry and much-beloved pet residents. - Markus Siivola photo
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It's been ten years or more since a veterinarian has come to Pang. For months the Pangnirtung Humane Society has been raising money. Weeks prior to the clinic, in a town where volunteer Delia Siivola says people do everything last-minute, more than 50 residents had already signed pets up to see the vet.
"In general people are very happy the clinic is coming," said Siivola, whose telephone line has been tied up lately arranging appointments for spays and neuters, deworming and vaccinations. "We haven't had a vet here in many years and many people want their animals to be healthy ... and can't afford to fly them out to Iqaluit."
Siivola said the humane society is committed to making the veterinary service available to everyone. Since costs may be a deterrent to someone looking to bring in their pet, she explained there would be no charge for services. Instead the humane society is suggesting pet-owners make a donation based on the typical costs of vet services in the south.
"Whatever you are able to donate will be accepted. We want all Panniqtuumiut to have access," said Siivola, explaining an average spay or neuter at a vet clinic in the south costs around $250 per pet and a package of basic vaccines typically costs about $150 per pet.
Since so few of the hamlet's animals are spayed or neutered and vaccinated, the veterinarian visit comes at a crucial point and has the support of the whole community – a heartwarming story during heart-worm season.
"The hamlet (office) seems to be very pleased so it's great all-round," she said. The hamlet made the community garage across from the airport available for volunteers to run the week-long clinic.
"We couldn't have done it without the community support," said Siivola, listing major donations from First Air and several community members.
For months the humane society canvassed the community to meet a fundraising goal of $5,000. As of last week, the society had raised $4,000 through loonie-toonie draws, cake walks and bingos. With the high cost of veterinary materials and a growing list of Pang pets needing shots and surgery, however, Siivola said she won't know the final cost until the clinic ends.
The vet will be travelling from Nova Scotia, and will spend one day visiting the elementary school to talk about bite prevention. The humane society is already planning another late-summer clinic as well as longer-term vet solution in the community.
Earlier in the year, one furry Pang resident named Bella needed to make an emergency trip to the vet, and while Bella is healthy again now, owner Meghan Mike said she will be relieved when Pangnirtung finally has access to a regular veterinarian service.
"Bella just isn't a pet but is family and needs vets available just in case something happened," she said.
The clinic will run for 12 hours every day (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Monday to Friday.
