The Plight of the Reserve Dogs



There are thousands of unspayed and unneutered dogs living uncontrolled on many of Canada's First Nation's Reserves.   They are forced to fend for themselves, scavenge food, and fight for their lives. Only a small percentage of these dogs are actually claimed and cared for; the majority are left to suffer. Residents of the reserves don't have the resources to care for them properly, and many people, already dealing with personal problems of their own, take out their frustrations on the dogs. Injured dogs, victims of abuse or fighting, wander the reserves without medical care, developing infections and eventually succumbing to their injuries.  Many of the starving dogs become a real and serious danger to the children and indeed, all of the people living on the reserve.  Every time a litter of puppies is born, it makes the situation worse. So, as the populations increase and the problems escalate, often the band council chooses to take drastic measures to protect the residents of their reserve.  Every year, hundreds of dogs are purposely killed on reserves across Canada in an pitiful attempt to control their numbers.

Without permission from the Band Council and Chief, outside organizations cannot interfere with the dogs on the reserves. Some reserves work hand in hand with rescues, while others have no programs in place whatsoever, to make the dog's lives better. Most reserves have multiple annual Dog-Shoot Days/Weeks, some even providing a bounty for every dead dog brought in.  There are some reserves that have put programs in place, with the help of rescue groups, but a common system of humane animal care and control on reserves has not been acheived.

To learn more about the problem and how you can help, vist:

Dogs Matter
(Information)
Humane Animal Rescue Team
(Rescues Reserve Dogs)
Animal Rescue Foundation
(Rescues Reserve Dogs and Cats, and conducts Spay/Neuter Education)