Our Programs
about Mom's Last Litter
The FMSPCA has welcomed the first 2 candidates to our Mom’s Last Litter Program which offers spay and neuter initiatives to the rural communities on a referral basis. Female animals that are known to have multiple litters are brought in through the program with the litter so they can be properly weaned and spend the appropriate amount of time with mom. Once weaned the litter is vetted and placed up for adoption. Mom is spayed/vaccinated/dewormed and microchipped and returned to the owner at no cost as part of our NAME program.
Mindy, a Labrador Retriever who called Fort McMurray First Nation #468 home, was the first canine in the program. Mindy became the mother of an unplanned litter of six in June of 2019. Unable to care for all of them, Mindy’s owner desperately looked to the Fort McMurray SPCA for help. Although she didn’t want to be separated from Mindy, the owner surrendered the new mother along with all six nursing puppies, knowing that the pups would still need to rely on their mother’s care over the coming weeks. Upon entering the shelter, one of Mindy’s puppies, a male by the name of Bullet, was quickly diagnosed with Parvovirus; a highly contagious and often deadly virus which causes extreme cases of bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Over the following weeks, Mindy and her pups received treatment, vaccines, deworming and general care from the dedicated and loving staff of the FMSPCA. Having being weaned and slowly recovered from illness, the puppies were spayed or neutered and then adopted out to loving homes in the community. Mindy, after caring for her puppies as best as she could and watching them grow up, was spayed and returned to the loving care of her owner. Together, we gave Mindy the chance to live her best life with her family while ensuring that this was to be this mom’s last litter.
To contact us about the program, please click here
Northern Animal Management & Education program (NAME)
Large scale spay and neuter clinics announced for Wood Buffalo First Nations Communities June 2017. The Fort McMurray SPCA and Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force partnered to undertake large scale spay and neuter clinics in several RMWB First Nations communities in June 2017. The clinics were held in the First Nation communities of Fort McKay First Nation, Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation and Fort McMurray First Nation #468 where the organizations expect to spay or neuter up to 430 dogs and 150 cats. Read more in our News & Media section.
Many regional rural communities experience companion animal overpopulation resulting in safety concerns and unrest amongst local residents. The FMSPCA’s ground breaking Northern Animal Management and Education (NAME) program provides solution based services that addresses humane education, animal care supplies, medical treatment and intervention as well as assists communities in establishing humane animal best practices. The program undertakes large scale spay and neuter clinics while at the same time taking into our care any unwanted companion animals who are then transported to the shelter, provided medical care, behavioral assessment and enrichment in order to prepare the animals for joining our adoption program. The NAME program provides a spectrum of solution based services tailored specifically to the needs assessed and identified in each community resulting in strategic relationships that address the very real challenge of pet overpopulation.
Since 2014, hundreds of companion animals have been treated and have their own ID so that they can carry their own vital information such as vaccinations and home address, which offer piece of mind to both pet owners and community residents.
Through safe surrender the FMSPCA accepts unwanted and nuisance companion animals in partner communities, animals are transported to our facility, provided medical care, behavioral assessment and enrichment in order to prepare the animals for joining our adoption program.
The NAME program provides a spectrum of solution based services tailored specifically to the needs assessed and identified in each community resulting in strategic relationships that address the very real challenge of pet overpopulation. Currently the Fort McMurray SPCA provides support and resources through the NAME program to Fort McKay First Nation, Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation, the Fort Chipewyan area, Conklin and most recently Fort McMurray First Nation #468.
NAME program stats:
In 2016 the NAME program delivered a total of 21,368 lbs of food, took in 92 animals through safe surrender and completed 8 community visits.
Fort McKay:
- Serving Since: October 2014
- In community wellness clinic January 2015, served 65 domestic animals included 40 free spay/neuter coupons provided by Brion Energy and BP
- 112 domestic animals surrendered from the community since January 2015, 34 surrendered in 2016
- Elders and Low Income Pet Food Program delivered more than 5000 pounds of pet food in 2016
- Safety: Helped community create responsible Pet Ownership By-Law
- Tentative Spay/Neuter Clinic June 2017
CPDFN:
- Serving Since: May 2015
- 5 in community visits in 2016
- Elders and Low Income Pet Food Program delivered more than 10,000 pounds of pet food in 2016
- 80 domestic animals surrendered from the community since May 2015, 43 surrendered in 2016
- Tentative Spay/Neuter Clinic June 2017
Fort Chipewyan:
- Serving since January 2014
- 14 domestic animals surrendered from the community in 2015, 8 surrendered in 2016
- The FMSPCA Pet Food Program delivered more than 25 pounds of pet food in 2016
- Safety: Provided equipment and supplies for the humane & safe apprehension of domestic animals
FMFN #468:
- Serving since January 2016
- Tentative Spay/Neuter clinic June 2017
- Elders and Low Income Pet Food Program delivered more than 6,000 lbs of pet food in 2016
- Health: 3 in community visits in 2016
Conklin:
- Serving since January 2016
- Two animal rescue transports in October and November 2016
- Elders and Low Income Pet Food Program delivered more than 343 lbs of pet food in 2016
- 7 domestic animals surrendered in 2016