The Chinook project this year will give eight veterinary students some real life experiencguided by six veterinarians while provinding veterinary treatment in the north where such service is rare
Photo Credit: submitted-CBC

Veterinarian volunteers bring treatment to far northern animals

Dogs often serve a vital role in life in far northern communities, but like any animal they sometimes need medical attention.  Veterinary services can be rare to non-existant in many communities of the north.

A group of students and veterinarians from the Atlantic Veterinary College in the eastern maritime province Prince Edward Island, has just returned from a medical journey to remote communities in Labrador.

Called the Chinook Project, the AVC has been sending students and veterinarians to remote communities in Labrador and Nunavut for the past ten years.

This year eight students and six veterinarians from the College were on the trip which is conducted on a volunteer basis.

The trip was funded with a $15,000 grant from the Labrador Department of Natural Resources

For the students it’s a chance to get real life experience, and for the communities it’s a chance to get free veterinarian service for sick animals, and for the communities to get some control over the dog population.

“You’re practising your spays and your neuters and off you go,” said student Jason Gray. “It’s a wonderful learning opportunity. It’s high volume, its a lot of stress, your’re working hard, but you’re learning so much. Its great.”

With files from CBC

Categories: Environment & Animal Life, Indigenous, Society
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