Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After raising the questions in the House with the Minister of MACA, as well as asking written questions, I had several folks reach out to speak with me about animal welfare programs offered to NWT communities. Most Yellowknifers are familiar with NWT SPCA and the services that they offer. NWT SPCA, the Tlicho Animal Rescue Society, the Hay River Animal Shelter, and Fort Smith Animal Shelter are all compassionate advocates and champions for animal welfare and work to re-home, spay, neuter, and treat hundreds of stray dogs and other pets each year.
A group that may have less familiarity in my constituency but is more well-known in some smaller communities, is Vets Without Borders. With their northern animal health initiative and community animal health worker program, vets travel to the NWT to support communities that have limited access to veterinary services. Vets Without Borders provides not only travel vet clinics for vaccination and deworming but can also assist interested municipalities and bylaw officers with capacity building. Vets Without Borders can provide them with telehealth supports, educational supports, teaching of pet first aid, and training for lavex vaccinators to prevent disease outbreak. Rabies and dog bites can be costly to our human health system, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, across the North, passionate animal lovers are doing much-needed work to assist animals on pathways to new adoptive homes. Vets Without Borders is assisting animals and communities where they are at. Animal welfare has many facets, and some facets could be supported with in-kind government work. With some targeted support for communities, we can lessen downstream impacts on our animal shelters. I will have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time. Thank you.
