Sat, August 26, 2006
'No choice' but to shoot dogs

By ROCHELLE SQUIRES, SUN MEDIA

WINNIPEG -- Upcoming "dog shoot" days in a few northern communities means stray dogs will be hunted down and shot like wild game.

As disturbing as that may sound, Winnipeg Humane Society executive director Vicki Burns cautions against judgment.

"I feel strongly that we shouldn't be judgmental about the dog shoots as a form of animal control.

"They really have no choice," she said yesterday.

Stray dogs run rampant in many of these communities and often frighten, maim and sometimes kill unsuspecting people, often little children.

Most recently, Darian Bird, 2, was mauled to death by a pair of husky crosses last month near his home on the Hollow Water First Nation.

His death followed a similar tragedy in June, when a three-year-old boy was killed by dogs on the Sayisi First Nation, a remote fly-in reserve 960 km north of Winnipeg.

Instead of passing judgment against communities forced to slaughter stray dogs, Burns wants dog lovers and the Manitoba Government to be a part of the solution.

The Winnipeg Humane Society wants the province to consider funding for a northern spay and neuter clinic.

"This is the first time we've tried to get a formal plan in place, so I'm really pleased (Aboriginal Affairs Minister) Oscar Lathlin is willing to meet," said Burns.

The province confirmed a meeting is being planned. Lathlin was unavailable for comment.

Burns is proposing a veterinarian from a roving spay and neuter clinic visit communities once a year to fix several animals in one visit.

"Twenty dogs could be done in a session. Over five years it would definitely make a difference," said Burns.
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