An innovative contraception program
Dogs have a short and difficult life without adequate food, water and shelter available to them. This is especially true on our First Nations reserves which experience northern climates with severe winter months. While adoptions of rez dogs are possible and encouraged through rescue groups, unfortunately, they are limited to younger pups and tamer dogs that can make the transition to a companion dog. There is also a shortage of welcoming homes.
It was in the hopes of reducing the suffering of these dogs that the Dogs With No Names initiative was born. This innovative pilot project offered a potential solution to the dog overpopulation problem: the use of contraceptive implants to prevent unwanted dogs from being born in the first place.
Inserted under the skin of female dogs, the quick procedure requires minimal handling, is painless when given with local freezing, doesn’t require extensive technical skills and presents no ill side effects. Of course, there are still challenges: you must first catch the dogs, cost is still a concern (although only about one third of the cost of a spay surgery) and the implant only confers infertility for a temporary basis of about sixteen months. Sadly, the short lifespan of the implant has not been much of an issue, as many rez dogs do not outlive the duration of the implant and even fewer live beyond the two implants required up to the age of three years.
Every implanted dog also receives a microchip for permanent identification in order to monitor survival and reproductive activity over a three year period. In addition, they receive dog food, dewormer tablets and a rabies vaccine.
The Dogs With No Names project has successfully implanted over one hundred female dogs and prevented the birth of tens of thousands of puppies. Although it was initiated with the hopes of doing just that, much more has emerged as a result. Bridges have been built with First Nations community members, a deeper understanding of the true essence of our best friends has come to light, and the best gift of all - though an unintended consequence - were the many lessons learned from the dogs with no names.
