Veterinarians Without Borders North America offers support for pet guardians and animals affected by wildfires in Jasper & other areas of Alberta
VWB is responding to wildfires across Alberta, including in Jasper
The Northern Animal Health Initiative is focused on improving animal health in Canada's North by providing services for underserved communities across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
VWB's Northern Animal Health Initiative (NAHI)
Goal: Our goal is to build capacity for animal health care across Canada's North by providing veterinary clinics and training to remote communities that have no access to veterinary professionals. In doing so, we aim to help strengthen the health of both community members and domesticated animals living in Canada's territories.
Groups We Work With: Remote communities, including Indigenous communities, across northern Canada. VWB/VSF works with each community on an invite-only basis.
Where: Northwest Territories and Nunavut
The Situation
Those of us who live in large urban communities in North America are fortunate to have access to trusted veterinary professionals who can provide our animals with care, including vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and general care when our animals are injured or sick. For the majority of pet guardians across Canada's remote North, these services are simply unavailable. In fact, a 2017 study conducted on behalf of VWB/VSF found 54 remote communities of 100 or more people in Canada’s three northern territories had little or no access to veterinary services. In the entire territory of Nunavut, there is not a single veterinary office.
What We Are Doing
VWB/VSF uses the One Health model to partner with remote communities in the Canadian territories upon their invitation. We work with each community to identify needs and build a plan with community representatives to build local capacity to address animal care needs year-round. This includes offering temporary veterinary clinics with a team of volunteers.
While at these clinics, we offer:
- Vaccinations against deadly diseases, including rabies
- Spay and neuter surgeries
- Consultations with pet guardians/animals and general veterinary check ups
- Community training programs, including pet first aid and lay vaccinators
Our aim is to build a sustainable framework that will create conditions for lasting, community-driven animal health care. This includes:
Community-driven Partnerships
We work with communities to understand their needs and then build collaborations among community members, VWB/VSF, veterinarians, and other stakeholders to address those needs.
Sustainable Veterinary Care
Sustainable veterinary care means more than flying in veterinarians once a year. Community members trained in certain procedures, access to telemedicine, and other solutions tailored for specific communities are essential components of sustainability.
Education & Research
Knowledge sharing, education and addressing community-identified research needs will promote safe and positive human-animal interactions. For example, teaching youth how to engage with unknown dogs or supporting the local government with bylaw development.
Resources for Northern communities
With the goal to increase knowledge of animal care and science in northern communities the awards program supports northern residents in pursuing animal- and one-health related studies. We award more than $45,000 annually.
Nunavut Rabies Awareness & Prevention Education Program
A free grades 5 and 6 curriculum focused on rabies education for Nunavut schools. This educational kit can be used by any teacher in a northern community.
Northern Animal Health Resources
We work with communities to identify resources that will help strengthen animal health capacity. Find the resources in the available translations here.
Pet Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Ensure your animals are kept safe during extreme weather events and other emergencies.
VWB/VSF is piloting a veterinary telehealth program, in partnership with PetSmart Charities of Canada and Animal HealthLink, for the communities of Gjoa Haven, NU, Tuktoyaktuk, NT, and Kugluktuk, NU by providing them with essential veterinary care via a phoneline. Their calls will be addressed by registered veterinary technologists and triaged to VWB/VSF staff, including veterinarians, as needed. Looking for more info? Reach out to info@vwb.org.
Meet Our Program Partners
VWB/VSF’s northern work is made possible thanks to the generous support of these incredible partners.
Check out NAHI's latest stories
Veterinarians Without Borders North America responds to growing wildfires near Fort Good Hope, NT thanks to grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada™
VWB is responding to ongoing wildfire evacuation efforts in response to wildfires near the community of Fort Good Hope
Ask an Expert: "How can we work with northern communities to strengthen access to animal health care?" with Dr. Trace MacKay
Holding over 21 years of veterinary experience, Dr. MacKay has volunteered her time with VWB since the formation of VWB Canada in the early 2000s.
Veterinarians Without Borders North America publishes Rabies Awareness and Prevention Education Program in both English and Inuktitut for remote communities in northern Canada
VWB is thrilled to announce the launch of its first ever Rabies Awareness and Education Program, funded by the CFIA.
Veterinarians Without Borders responding to out-of-control wildfires raging across Western Canada
As wildfires rage across Western Canada, VWB is helping evacuating community members and animals impacted by the blazes.
