The CAAT's meow
Animal assistance project makes big difference in Baker
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 16, 2013
BAKER LAKE
A pilot project that worked wonders with the animal population in Baker Lake has come to an end.
The 2013 CAAT team that visited Baker Lake this past month are Dr. David Kerr, back row from left, Dee Brown, Marnel Nelson, Chris Robinson, Caitlin McLagan, Angela Watt, Dr. Jenn Buller and Sue MacIsaac and, in the front row from left, Josiane Frigon, Sara Moore, Chandra Damato and Michelle MacNab. - photo courtesy Susan MacIsaac |
Members of the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT) have been making an annual visit to Baker for the past five years.
Clinic co-ordinator Susan MacIsaac said the goal was to spay and neuter 60 to 70 per cent of the dogs in Baker and have almost 100 per cent of them vaccinated.
She said with that now accomplished, Baker can bring in a much smaller surgical team to work with a smaller, more manageable population of animals.
"The five-year commitment is significant because that's how long it takes to make a difference in the animal population, especially if there's never been veterinary services there before," said MacIsaac.
"It takes a couple of years to get the people of a community to truly understand why they should have their animals spayed or neutered.
"The first three years tend to be really busy and the last couple of years taper off."
MacIsaac said there was a big rush of people who brought their animals in for spays or neuters during the first couple of years in Baker, and it really died down in the final two.
She said CAAT's speciality is going into places that have never had veterinary services before.
"CAAT goes in and provides the basics - spays, neuters and vaccines - with the goal of getting the population down and improving the overall health of the animals.
"They're not sure what they're going to do yet in Baker, but following Rankin Inlet's model of bringing a small team up annually is, definitely, an option.
"The fact Rankin's clinic has run so long and done so well, probably makes it a top possibility for Baker."
CAAT estimates it reached its goal of 60 to 70 per cent of the animal population being spayed or neutered.
That's the percentage needed to get the rate of reproduction down to an easily manageable level, with only 20 to 30 spays or neuters required per year now.
CAAT has done about 250 total spays and neuters, as well as about 240 vaccinations each year.
MacIsaac said that made a big impact on the pets of Baker Lake.
She said people had plenty of questions the first year, and weren't really sure what the benefits were of bringing their animals in.
"There's a lot less dogs in town and the people look forward to a vet's visit.
"We also noticed the dogs coming into the clinic were in a lot better condition, weighing more and not having as many health problems."
MacIsaac said CAAT could return to the Kivalliq, but it has to be invited by a community willing to fundraise to cover costs.
She said the team really enjoyed its time.
"We had the same vet four years in a row, the same team leader for two, and a lot of others liked the community so much they'd be willing to come back no problem.
"CAAT sees Baker and the Kivalliq as a good place to bring its services."
CAAT member Laura Sutton went to Baker for the first four years of the project and was team leader twice.
Sutton said the team saw many of the dogs and cats in Baker, including sled dogs, and spoke to many pet owners.
She said CAAT did a lot of good work in Baker.
"We, definitely, got a lot of the pet population under control in Baker," said Sutton.
"A lot less puppies are being born and it's a lot healthier population now, so, fingers crossed, it's at a manageable level and will continue to stay that way."
Sutton said people became more comfortable asking questions of the CAAT team as the years went past.
She said there was a core group of people who brought their pets in each and every year of CAAT's visits.
"Many also brought in other people with their pets and offered to help out.
"We went into the schools almost every year to talk to the kids about bite prevention, how to approach a dog and be safe around them, in general.
"Questions from the kids changed, too, reaching the point where they wanted to know how to train their dogs and teach them to do tricks.
"That was different and very exciting for us."
Sutton said Baker embraced the pilot project.
She said the CAAT members thoroughly enjoyed their time there, but they would serve the Kivalliq better by moving on to another community now.
"A committee looks at where we need to be, but, if we're needed back in Baker at some point in the future, we'd be happy to go back.
"It would be great to go to a different community and make a difference there.
"For now, we've done a lot of good work in Baker and it would be great to do that somewhere else.
"But Baker was one of our first projects where we committed to a five-year plan, so, if they need us again, all they have to do is call."
