$1M funding boost will help improve veterinary care, animal welfare in remote Manitoba areas: province

New funding announced Friday will help improve access to veterinary care in remote Manitoba communities, including through a pilot project to work with two Indigenous communities to control dog populations and increase animal welfare, the province says.

The province is allocating $100,000 annually for the next four years for the pilot project — stemming from a $1-million partnership with the Winnipeg Humane Society to increase funding for a northern and remote veterinary care initiative the province launched last year. 

"We're on one mission: the humane treatment of animals regardless where you live," Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn told reporters at a news conference. "We know there are areas that are underserved."

The Winnipeg Humane Society will get $250,000 in funding from the province through the partnership to run its One Health program, a mobile veterinary clinic program that offers spaying, neutering and wellness exams in northern communities at low or no cost.

The animal welfare organization is matching that amount to operate the program.

"We witness incredible ripple effects of our impact on the community," Winnipeg Humane Society CEO Christina Von Schindler said on Friday. "We enhance the health of all."

A big push for the project is to help curb the overpopulation of animals in Manitoba, Von Schindler said, which will reduce the number of animals in shelters while also making remote communities safer by reducing the risk of dog attacks and rabies.

Since last year, the humane society has operated 22 remote clinics in 17 underserved communities, Von Schindler said.

The program will be expanded with the additional funding, Von Schindler said, reaching more Indigenous and northern communities.

"Missed opportunities means more need," she said. "The more effective we can be when the need arises, the more effective we can be long term." 

The humane society is also getting an additional $100,000 from the province to work with community-based groups in remote communities to support animal welfare.

The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association, meanwhile, will receive $50,000 to train staff and cover the cost of equipment to administer vaccines to animals in remote communities, the province said Friday.

"Veterinary care should not be a luxury. This is about making sure animals, communities and the environment are healthy and supported," said Dr. Esther Hillonov, a member of the association's council. 

A group of veterinarians from the organization has been working to supply vaccines in Indigenous communities since 2021.

Hillonov said the funding will allow the program to expand, which she called "an important step forward in improving access to veterinary care in northern and Indigenous communities."

Manitoba is also creating two animal health and welfare specialist positions, with $250,000 in new funding. The staff will be stationed in Thompson and Swan River, where they will help enforce the Animal Care Act, Kostyshyn said.