2019 ANNUAL REPORTCHIOTS NORDIQUES

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CHIOTS NORDIQUES

WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

The year 2019 was a year of change and multiple opportunities; opportunities to meet humans and animals, incredible partnerships, essential actions in the field for the animals’ wellbeing and for public safety in the communities visited during these missions.

Through these actions, our organization has continued to develop undeniable bonds--not only with the communities already visited, but also with new ones. These new communities were just as eager to participate in the collective movement for public safety, to improve their relationship with the canine species and to control the canine population.

Our organization is a 100% volunteer-run organization that relies on a team of people with multiple qualities, talents and skills. These volunteers have kept the organization going since 2012, by holding targeted sterilization clinics with tight schedules and taking into account significant logistical constraints. different needs identified by local decision-makers in each community and various emergencies that suddenly appeared in the field. So, once again in 2019, we were able to show our resilience, our ability to adapt to different situations but, most importantly, our love for these collarless dogs and the people we met on our journey.

The lack of veterinary care in the different Indigenous communities throughout Quebec renders the activities of Chiots Nordiques essential in responding to the different needs of each community, while promoting the active participation and implication of these communities.

In closing, I must emphasize that our actions in these communities are made possible thanks to donations from the public, the significant support of kindhearted people and our partner organizations. Chiots Nordiques could not continue without all of you!

Daphnée Veilleux-Lemieux President

OUR MISSION

To offer sustainable solutions to the challenges of canine overpopulation in the various Indigenous communities throughout Quebec, while helping stray dogs. Our organization wishes to provide effective, responsible and professional support to the different communities wanting to hold targeted sterilization clinics to spay/neuter, vaccinate and deworm the animals to improve their wellbeing but, most importantly, to respond to the crucial problems of public safety.

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CONTROL the canine overpopulation by holding targeted sterilization clinics

OFFER veterinary services in remote regions.

HELP meet basic needs by sending dry dog food for stray dogs.

RESPOND to animal emergencies during emergency transfers and adoptions

RAISE the population’s awareness about primary care and dog bite prevention

PROMOTE public safety and reduce the risks of transmission of rabies and other diseases

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55 Indigenous communities

80 to 300 dogs in need per community, including several in the context of wandering

55% of them do not have access to veterinary care within 300 km

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OUR TEAM

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daphnée Veilleux-Lemieux - President

Cathy Samson - Vice-President and Founder

Alexandrine Baril - Treasurer

Lisa Barrett - Director

Kariane Morais - Director

Maély Richard - Director

Laurence Veilleux-Lemieux - Director

OUR DIVISION MANAGERS

Alexandrine Baril - Accounting and Finance

Daniel Daigle-Beauchesne - Transport and Promotion

Kariane Morais - Medical and Volunteer Management

Maély Richard - Behaviour and Management of Foster Families

Stéphanie Arsenault Soucy - Funding Program

Daphnée Veilleux-Lemieux - Management and Organizational Plan

Laurence Veilleux-Lemieux - Media and Communications

100% volunteerMade up of veterinarians, animal health technicians, animal care workers and capture specialists.

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• To work together and respond directly to needs expressed by the communities

• Collaboration

• Respect

• Public safety

• Uniqueness

• Education

• Animal health and wellbeing

• Volunteering

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OUR PROGRAMS

TARGETED STERILIZATION CLINICS

The lack of veterinary care in several Indigenous communities has consequences, notably canine overpopulation. In addition, the presence of rabies in certain communities makes it vital to hold sterilization and vaccination clinics. These interventions initially respond to needs identified by local decision makers and stakeholders. It is therefore a voluntary program respecting the needs, customs and values of each community visited. Without a doubt, the precious collaboration and active involvement of program participants contribute to the success of our mission.

These clinics allow direct control of the canine population and significantly reduce the risk of dogfights and injury to persons caused by the dogs. They also offer a second chance to these dogs that would otherwise die from the cold, hunger or mass shooting by firearms. These clinics must be repeated regularly to ensure long term positive effects. Sterilization is the only effective solution which is ethical and sustainable.

In addition to improving the living conditions of these animals living in these communities, these clinics also have a significant social dimension. Indeed, by reducing or by eliminating the canine overpopulation, the risks to human health from injuries or bites will be greatly reduced.

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For the Cree community of Chisasibi, Chiots Nordiques plays a leading role in managing the canine population, through its annual sterilization clinics. This allows us to ensure constant control of the reproduction capacity of the dogs in our community. The effectiveness, professionalism and uniqueness of that organization’s service allow us to offer an essential health service to domestic animals in the village. The department of public safety of the Cree Nation of Chisasibi can thus adopt a more humane approach focusing on animal welfare, which is all too often not practiced in other Indigenous communities on our territory.

Catherine Rhéaume-Provost – Coordinator, Chisasibi Animal Rescue - Public Safety

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH

A sterilization and vaccination program for dogs, including strays, has several advantages--for both the protection of the population and the wellbeing of animals. Strategies to control zoonoses and the population of stray dogs must rely on the desire of local stakeholders: the municipalities and dog owners. Since children living in Indigenous communities are 180% more likely to be killed by a dog, control of the canine population remains essential.

The endemic presence of the rabies virus in the north of Quebec is nothing new and must be considered in the implementation of canine population control programs. Indeed, it has been proven that dogs are the main vector of rabies, and control of this disease in dogs is part of a public safety program. The elimination of rabies in dogs is the optimal control method to prevent the transmission of this disease in humans.

Two essential interventions:

• Preventing the transmission of rabies and gastrointestinal parasites.

• Teaching the behaviours at risk, to reduce the riskof dog bites.

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EMERGENCY TRANSFERS AND ADOPTION

As our main goal is the source control of canine overpopulation, holding sterilization clinics remains our main course of action. In situations requiring an emergency transfer for medical reasons or a transfer after receiving treatment in a clinic, these stray dogs are first of all looked after by our foster families. All dogs put up for adoption are seen by a veterinarian, spayed/neutered, vaccinated,

dewormed and microchipped.

FOOD FOR STRAY DOGS

In addition to difficult climatic conditions, lack of food leads to a high death rate. Sending more than 10,000 kg of dry dog food annually allows low-income owners to provide quality food to their dogs. It also allows local volunteers to feed the stray dogs, enabling the dogs to cope better with this hostile environment.

PROGRAM

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

The exclusive holding of a sterilization clinic must be accompanied by an awareness program for dog owners. The training and education program of Chiots Nordiques is intended as a complementary tool to field interventions, but also as a sharing of values, knowledge and educational tools outside of our sphere of action.

The full program consists of:

• Visits and presentations in primary and secondary schools

• Distribution of exercise books for children.

• Sharing of information on basic care via leafletsduring the clinic.

• Offering educational fact sheets on differentpathogens and basic care.

• Local participation in clinics

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INCOMES 2019CLOSE TO

200 000$CHIOTS NORDIQUES HAS ALMOST QUADRUPLED INCOME IN 2 YEARS WITH THE PRESENCE OF HIS NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM

62 616$IN DONATIONS DUE TO

1093 GENEROUS DONORS

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EXPENSES

FINANCE

During the 2019 fiscal year, our organization was able to expand its network of donors in order to ensure a marked growth regarding donations from individuals, corporations, and contributions to communities, all while maintaining adoptions from dogs via foster families and its grants from its partner organization, the Humane Society International, at a similar level to the one of the 2018 fiscal year.

This increased income has enabled the team to multiply its interventions and the punctual transfer of dogs for adoption. Such a rise in activity is inevitably conjoined to an increase in expenses incurred in order to carry out the year’s various missions, namely in terms of expenses in veterinarian supplies.

The health of the dogs brought back for adoption, which is beyond our organization’s control, turns out that more dogs were seriously injured and required major care during the year which explains the increase in veterinarian supplies. The same can be said for the number of private sterilization clinics which have clearly increased, and the partnerships with the veterinarian clinics involved which have changed in accordance to their capability to help.

Another major expense for 2019 are the travel costs that allow volunteers to travel to some remote communities which are only accessible by plane.

The team also had to purchase metal crates, carriers as well as two cage traps. Therefore, the depreciation expenses were inevitably higher in 2019 than in 2018

Finally, the management team implemented new initiatives this year, such as microchipping dogs for adoption, thank you gifts for devoted foster families given at the end of the year, and buying clothes for its volunteers so that they can be identified in the field during missions.

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REVENUE

● Donations and fundraising activities 62 616$

● Grant 47 835$

● Adoptions 44 400$

● Refuge Animal contribution 31 925$

● Community reimbursements 9 960$

● Desjardins dividend and interests 1 148$

197 884$

EXPENSES

● Travel-related expenses 78 070$

● Veterinary fees and supplies 72 821$

● Expenses for dogs in foster families 6 270$

● Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 5 488$

● Professional fees and insurance 5 366$

● Clothing for volunteers 4 492$

● Equipment for clinics 1 148$

● Interest, bank charges and other charges 971$

178 607$

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3 170 $ was raised thanks to the contribution of 150 participants in the Misha Fun Run organized by Judith Stafford

1 574 $ was raised by Érika Ferguson who organized three CrossFit classes.

383 $ was raised by Rosalie Patterson, a teacher in Kawawachikamach, and her students who organized a cake sale and donated the profts to our organization.

175 $ was raised by Daniel Daigle-Beauchesne by collecting a birthday fundraiser via the Facebook platform.

1 500 $ was raised by our talented Alexandrine Baril who produced and sold 10 paintings. Proceeds enabled new crates to be purchased to ensure the safety and comfort of the dogs.

FUNDRAISINGS

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MATIMEKUSH LAC-JOHN, SCHEFFERVILLE AND KAWAWACHIKAMACH

Discussions begun in March 2018 with the various band councils helped to understand the magnitude of the situation. An emergency census carried out by an external company mandated by Schefferville airport made it possible to calculate the number of dogs near the city to be more than 150. An emergency call was therefore made to our organization!

Three communities to visit located almost 520 km from the nearest urban center and accessible only by train or by plane. Three communities where the population’s public safety is a priority and animal welfare is just as important. A clinic of this scale required the participation and collaboration of many partners as well as the launch of an emergency fundraising campaign.

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MATIMEKUSH LAC-JOHN, SCHEFFERVILLE ET KAWAWACHIKAMACH

13 months of planning

890 km by road and 520 km by railroad for dry dog food

10 hours by road and 14 hours by train to transport the equipment

5 transports by cargo-plane for medical equipment

5 days for the transport of volunteers, setting up of clinic and sterilizations (spayed/neutered)

17 volunteers

164 dogs evaluated in 2 1/2 days, including 135 sterilizations and 25 transfers

Kawawachikamach, where Chiots Nordiques went from being an adoption organization to a complete organization for direct control of the canine population. By mutual agreement, after a year of discussions among the three communities and a complex organizational plan for transportation, the Chiots Nordiques team admitted more than 160 dogs to the clinic despite the coverage of a very large area and a snowstorm making the capture of dogs impractical.

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(suite)

WEMOTACI

An emergency call from the population, and the Maison Nitem, a local organization hired for the welfare of the canine population in Wemotaci, was launched in May after multiple attempts by the community with other organizations. After three months, they were still waiting for help. In just one week, the rescue of 20 dogs was organized, two of these dogs requiring emergency medical care. Two volunteers traveled approximately 1200 km to capture and transfer these dogs and allow them to be cared for. Here is proof that, where kind people work together as a team, anything is possible!

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OBEDJIWAN

Obedjiwan is an Atikamekw community in the administrative region of the Mauricie with a population of 2,500. Although the community has expressed a profound desire for change, control of the canine population is difficult.

Hand in hand with the band council, by implementing a municipal by-law, holding sterilization clinics and transferring stray dogs to partner shelters. Chiots Nordiques multiplied its actions in this community in 2019. From dog owners who were sometimes reluctant due to lack of knowledge to dog owners asking to visit our organization, an incredible amount of progress was made within a very short time. In 2019, two interventions completed the actions of 2018, when 150 dogs had been transferred and more than 120 dogs spayed/neutered.

• February 2019 - rescue of 25 dogs by a team of 8 volunteers.

• March 2019 - 89 dogs spayed/neutered, 40+ of these dogs transferred including a dog with a fracture, thanks to a team of 18 volunteers.

• Fall 2019 - implementation of a registration system with tags provided by Chiots Nordiques.

Obedjiwan, a success to be renewed

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EKUANITSHIT AND NUTASHKUAN

A small Innu community on the lower North Shore, Ekuanitshit has implemented, with the help of Chiots Nordiques, complete control of the canine population as well as an awareness program, especially on adequate feeding of their animals, in only 12 months. Results: only one litter listed in a year, increased awareness among owners and peaceful streets for seniors.

Its neighbor, Nutashkuan, an Innu community visited by our organization in 2012, had, over a few months, observed an increase in dog bites, but also the population’s increased level of fear during walks. In order to optimize the movement of our volunteer team, we tested the coverage of our veterinary services for these two communities simultaneously. We

succeeded!

2 days of travelling and 2 500 km traveled 

2 communities covered: Ekuanitshit et Nutashkuan

142 animals examined, vaccinated and dewormed

64 sterilizations performed 

56 animals we transferred by road, for a second chance

0 deaths 

Over 20 devoted, motivated CN volunteers and locals

Several pounds of dog food offered to the community

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The distance (190 km) covered between the two communities reduced the number of sterilizations normally performed by our team of professionals by half, but made it possible to double the impact of our actions carried out in both communities simultaneously.

We would like to thank the people of the communities for their time, devotion and energy. They made a difference for us and the dogs throughout our stay.

Thank you, Ekuanitshit and Nutashkuan, for opening your doors as well as your hearts. Let us say: “see you soon!”

« Today, I received thanks by many in regards to this great work. Positive comments, happy people, congratulations and smiles. I love what I do for my community. »

- Angèle Napess - Ekuanitshit

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CHISASIBI

Nine volunteers participated in a maintenance clinic in this

Cree community, easily accessible only by plane.

3000 Km

2 days of examinations and sterilizations

115 animals examined

78 sterilizations performed

1 dog travelled back with us

This unique figure is explained by the responsible management of the canine population, controlled by the community of Chisasibi. Maintenance clinics provide a healthy and safe environment for the animals and the population by reducing animal reproduction through sterilization.

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MISTISSINI AND OUJÉ-BOUGOUMOU

New demands, new communities visited, new sharing of values, knowledge and teamwork which is so pertinent in respecting needs and the beginning of a beautiful collaboration with these two Cree communities.

It was an intense 48 hours with impressive results -- all that thanks to our motivated, devoted team, and to the great collaboration of Jason in Mistissini and Harry in Oujé-

Bougoumou.

20 volunteers

2 communities visited

172 dogs examined

100 sterilizations performed

53 dogs brought back with us

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SINCE 2012T

WHERE WE WENT

Nearly

2 500 sterilized dogs

More than

2 000 dogs transferred for adoption

28sterilization clinics

12communities visited

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KAWAWACHIKAMACH

MATIMEKUSH-LAC JOHN

CHISASIBI

KITCISAKIK

OBEDJIWAN

MANAWAN

WEMOTACI

PESSAMIT

MALIOTENAM

EKUANITSHIT

NUTASHKUAN

UNAMEN SHIPU

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2019 PRESS RELEASES

MEDIA COVERAGE

Des chiots à la SPAA | 8 février 2019La Nouvelle union

Problème de surpopulation canine dans des communautés autochtones | 12 février 2019 Émission Facteur matinal RADIO-CANADA

La SPAA accueille 14 chiens errants d’Obedjiwan | 14 février 2019La Nouvelle union

Des chiens évacués d’une réserve autochtone | 7 mars 2019TVA nouvelles

Une opération de stérilisation de chiens à Shefferville | 15 avril 2019Émission Boréale 138 à Radio-Canada

Opération stérilisation canine au nord du 54e parallèle | 26 avril 2019ICI Côte-Nord Radio-Canada

La surpopulation de chiens, un enjeu à Wemotaci | 28 mars 2019TVA Nouvelles

Clinique de stérilisation de chiens à Schefferville | 13 mai 2019Le Trait d’union du Nord

Sérieux problèmes d’ours et de chiens errants autour de Schefferville | 11 juin 2019Ma Côte-Nord

Chiots Nordiques de passage sur la Côte-Nord | 3 octobre 2019Ma Côte-Nord

L’organisme Chiots Nordiques à l’honneur à Refuge animal | 19 décembre 2019Le Nord-Côtier

Ils arrivent tout droit du pôle Nord | 23 décembre 2019L’Express de Drumondville

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