Cat Lake Friends of Animush

01/21/2025

It’s that time of year again that we are putting the call out for volunteers to travel into northern Ontario to volunteer at a spay/neuter clinic. Please email [email protected]
August 9-16 or August 16-23

10/30/2024

10/11/2024

THUNDER BAY – The federal government is committing an additional $1.5 million to extend the Matawa Animal Services pilot project from two years to four, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu announced Friday.

Matawa First Nations Management has demonstrated “exemplary leadership” with the project to create healthier, safer communities for companion animals and the people who love them, Hajdu said in a news conference in a North Star Air hangar at Thunder Bay International Airport.

One accomplishment of the pilot project launched in February was offering spay, neuter and animal wellness clinics in First Nations served by Matawa. The reserves had not seen such clinics in many years, according to a Matawa news release.

A lack of veterinarians in remote First Nations has spawned a range of problems including poor animal health, dog overpopulation and increased disease transmission among animals, according to the release.

Matawa chiefs are developing a business plan to expand the pilot project to serve other First Nations who lack access to veterinary services, animal supplies and resources, said David Paul Achneepineskum, chief executive officer of Matawa First Nations Management.

Achneepineskum said Matawa “is proud to be a trailblazer in Canada on the long-ignored issue of connecting the health of animals to the health of the people in First Nations.

“Access to animal services is critical in ensuring our communities are safe places,” he said.

“Also, our relationship to dogs has been disrupted by colonization and we need to fix that in a sustainable way.

“We are grateful for the support and responsibility taken by the federal government and look forward to the same with the provincial government."

Hajdu said “dog rescue” work in First Nations “is a Band-Aid solution at best.”

Having to surrender pets due to lack of financial resources and lack of veterinary services nearby “creates a lot of pain for people who love their animals,” she said.

“So this (pilot project) tries to change that relationship with communities by empowering those communities to have the self-determination, to have an animal care coordinator, to be able to connect with vets and the vet services that can come in on a rotating basis,” she continued.

Connecting communities to vital animal services helps “keep animals healthy and ultimately keep the wellness of communities intact,” she said.

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Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
About the Author: Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

09/30/2024

Supporting truth and reconciliation

09/10/2024

Ah Annie what a sweet heart

Look who is new in town! Meet Ani, Wolf, Biscuit and Steele! They had a very long voyage yesterday from Thunder Bay! These 4 sweet souls have vet visits this week and will be ready for the forever homes real soon! If you are interested in any of these beauties, please fill out an application at www.southernconnectionrescue.com or reach out to us.

09/04/2024

Bannock’s incredible journey and the transformation we have watched thanks to his first foster family in Thunder Bay to his flight buddy down to Toronto to his wonderful foster for the last 2 weeks and today he begins his new life in his new home. We want to thank everyone so much for all the support and help since we put the call out for Bannock to get him to this point.

08/28/2024

Just putting it out there if someone might be coming from Pickle Lake that could pickup about 10-15 crates at Northstar hanger and bring them to Thunder Bay for us

08/18/2024

Humane Canada, Northern Reach Network, OSPCA providing this donation of food into Cat Lake. Many happy animals. Thank you so much to Edith for helping to distribute throughout the community

08/18/2024

Thanks to Northern Reach Network and OSPCA and Humane Canada for the donation of food and Pam Cowie for getting it all to airport to be flown into Cat Lake. Thanks to Edith for her efforts to distribute within the community many bellies will be full in the weeks to come.

08/17/2024

We would like to thank all the community members who brought their pets to the clinic and the chief and council for their invitation in Round Lake and Cat Lake and Edith, Charlie , Chantel for all their help throughout the year, and the beautiful gifts from Cat Lake Chief and Council and Edith and Chantel, Joey in Round Lake for her help in organizing the clinic. Lynn Zoey Foundation, Craig Bark Bus for their generous donations and everyone that have donated or helped in anyway.

08/17/2024

Catlake friends of animush would like to thank all those who brought in their pets to be spayed or neuter or for wellness exams and vaccine. We did 59 surgeries and 58 wellness exams.

08/16/2024

Days 4/5 were busy in the clinic. Lots of surgeries and some wellness exams as well. Luckily managed a quick swim to cool off at night.

08/14/2024

The clinic is busy this week! Mostly spay and neuter surgeries of dogs young and old yesterday with a few wellness checks as well. The weather is hot this week and we are hoping for a swim today!

08/14/2024

I will be looking for a transport buddy for a dog coming from Thunder Bay to Toronto either air Canada or westjet next week. If anyone is travelling and would be kind enough I would be very grateful. Please PM me

08/13/2024

https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/SJL101K2P0A9?ref_=wl_share

Our wish list for future trips

08/13/2024

Another great but hot!! (😅🥵) day in Cat Lake. Many more surgeries and exams performed!