I have personally witnessed the abuse and neglect that can take place on a Reserve in British Columbia, and with many reserves located in remote areas without access to veterinarians, many pet companions also suffer from deadly diseases such as parvo and distemper. On the Bella Bella reserve the nearest vet clinic is located in Port Hardy where animals must either be flown to or transported to by boat.

The average cost to Reserve members is upwards of $400.00 to have a dog sterilized. This cost is unaffordable to the vast majority of Bella Bella Reserve members who desire to have their cat or dog spayed or neutered.

So, it was with great excitement when I discovered that you had received a $23,247.72 grant from the Summerlee Foundation of Texas in the Spring of 2003, called "British Columbia SPCA/Canadian Initiative: Support for feasibility study regarding mobile spay/neuter services to address the companion animals of First Nations Communities in northern British Columbia."

In April 2004, BC SPCA CEO, Craig Daniell stated during a meeting with Big Heart Rescue, that the study had been completed and that he would provide a copy to us, as he understood the inroads that had been made between BHR and the Bella Bella Reserve. With limited funds and a very small dedicated volunteer base, Big Heart Rescue has been able to provide low or no cost spay and neuter, vaccinations, medical treatment and re-homing of pets that have been abused, neglected, chained and threatened to be killed by gun shot. We have flown the pets to vets and have rehomed some.

As of this date, the study has not been provided by the SPCA. In an September 2004 article, "Band, WAG, others eye solutions, but lack money to deal with problem", in the Whistler Question, reporter Nicole Fitzgerald wrote, "The SPCA intended to implement a spay-and-neuter van to serve rural areas this year. However, funding constraints led to cancellation of the program." The SPCA has publicly discussed a spay and neuter mobile clinic for many years, and yet this necessary and life saving opportunity is once again placed on the back burner.

I am wondering what the results of this study concluded and if a committee has been struck between First Nations reserves and the SPCA to explore how to improve the quality of life for reserve animals and how to end the needless and ongoing unwanted litters that are produced each year.

Gail Moerkerken
Big Heart Rescue