With very few veterinary clinics in close proximity, communities in northern Saskatchewan often struggle with dog overpopulation.

As many people are unable to travel to the closest vet clinic, which is several hours away in Prince Albert, seven fourth-year veterinary students at the University of Saskatchewan brought their services to them.

Jacey Nyberg is one of the students who took part in the Northern Engagement and Community Outreach or NECO program, which lasted four days in La Ronge earlier this month.

Nyberg says the group provided spays, neuters, vaccinations, blood work, and check-ups to over 130 animals, mostly dogs.

“I loved engaging with community members. I think that was definitely one of the biggest highlights of our trip. So many people were so excited to share their stories and talk about why these clinics were important, so that was rewarding to hear.”

Nyberg says there’s a misconception that animals are treated poorly in northern communities, however that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Going into this, I expected more animals to be in worse condition than they were. I was surprised to see lots of animals with great body condition. They were being fed wonderful diets. Their teeth were clean. It was really inspirational to see.”

She adds that spaying and neutering won’t solve the province’s dog overpopulation crisis, but she hopes engaging with the community in an educational way will.