HSI/Canada and Chiots Nordiques Team-Up for World Spay Day

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Feb. 25, 2014) - This World Spay Day, Humane Society International/Canada proudly announces it is building its partnership with Chiots Nordiques with a grant that will help fund two more spay-neuter clinics in Quebec's northern regions. Chiots Nordiques (Northern Puppies) is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the humane management of stray and roaming dogs through mass dog and cat sterilization clinics offered in remote communities across the province of Quebec.

HSI/Canada and Chiots Nordiques partnered for the first time last October and conducted a mass sterilization clinic on the Atikamekw First Nation reserve in Wemotaci, Quebec. More than 100 dogs and several cats were vaccinated and sterilized during the four-day clinic. Mass sterilization is especially important in communities where street animal populations are prevalent.

Ewa Demianowicz, campaigner for HSI/Canada, said: "I can think of no better way to mark the 20^th anniversary of World Spay Day than by helping those who put words into action. We were thrilled to have assisted Chiots Nordiques provide veterinary services so desperately needed in a Quebec's First Nation community last year. With funding in place to plan two more mass sterilization and vaccination clinics, we're helping to ensure a humane solution for controlling stray and roaming dog populations."

Éric Coïa, president of Chiots Nordiques, added: "World Spay Day is about the importance of pet sterilization, which is why Chiots Nordiques is proud to announce two additional vaccination and sterilization clinics to be held at the beginning of May. Thanks in part to the support of Humane Society International/Canada, we can now help animals in Opitciwan and Manawan, two Atikamekw communities. Our goal will be to sterilize a total of 300 dogs, and we are very grateful for the assistance."

World Spay Day is an annual campaign that shines a spotlight on the importance of spay/neuter as a way to save lives. It takes place on the last Tuesday of February and for the occasion, animal welfare organizations, veterinary clinics, municipalities and individuals come together in an effort to promote the spaying and neutering of pets, community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs. Find an event near you at worldspayday.org.

A video of a Chiots Nordiques and HSI clinic in Quebec can be found here.

Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. HSI/Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International which, together with its partners, constitutes one of the world's largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - on the Web at hsicanada.ca