Dog News

Canada dogs get birth control to control dog population

by Katherine

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Photo Credit: CBC News

In Sheshatshiu, an Innu Federal Reserve in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the population of stray dogs seems to be out of control. In an effort to control breeding in stray dogs, Canadian veterinarians have traveled to the province to administer birth control implants to stray female dogs.

Veterinarians with Dogs with No Names first launched a pilot program back in 2009 on two First Nations reserves in southern Alberta. They are now working towards giving the birth control implants to about 100 stray female dogs.

The procedure is simple. An implant with a dose that lasts from 18-24 months gets inserted under the skin of the dog. The contraceptive should prevent around 100,000 births over the next 2 years.

Innu community members are happy to see that something is being done to control the overgrown population of stray dogs.

“I think it’s an excellent thing that’s very positive for the community,” Innu band manager Greg Pastitshi told CBC News. “A lot of community members really love their dogs, and we want to help them as much as we can from the band council.”

The dog contraceptive program is funded by the provincial government and through private donations. Aside from receiving the implants, the animals also get rabies vaccination, deworming, and implanted with microchips to track them.