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This week the Rec Center in Fort Totten was transformed into a makeshift veterinary clinic and people from miles around took advantage of the free services that were offered.
The clinic was presented by the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, as part of their Native Nations program.
Dr. Kate Kuzminski, a veterinarian from Ontario, said the organization is headquartered in Salinas, CA, but includes volunteers and vets from throughout the United States and Canada.
“This particular trip,” she noted, “Everyone but me is American.”
Kuzminski said the crew in Fort Totten this week includes three staff veterinarians, including herself, six volunteer veterinarians, six volunteer registered vet technicians and more than 30 vet student volunteers.
Services include the spaying and neutering of pets, vaccinations, de-worming and flea and tick treatment.
Kuzminski said they don't do many surgeries, but if an animal is injured, they will help.
“Sometimes we do leg amputations or eye ball removal,” she said. “And we will treat medical conditions such as skin problems and infections.”
She said there is a lot of mange in this particular area, so that has been a big focus this week.
“We aren't here to take business away from the local vets,” she explained. “We are here to provide a service to people who can't afford to go to the local vet.”
As a testament to their dedication, the crew has been sleeping in the Rec Center in sleeping bags on the gym floor and eating food prepared in the Rec Center kitchen.
The group has been here all week and wrapped up their work this morning. An exact number of the number of animals treated wasn't immediately available.
The Community Health Representative (CHR) office in Fort Totten sponsors this service each summer.
Fred Longie, CHR Director, said this is the fourth such event on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Two were held, then there was a break when many of the veterinarians were dispatched to the Gulf War, and last year they returned to Fort Totten.
Longie said announcements are read on the KABU radio station and flyers were placed around the Spirit Lake Nation and in Devils Lake. Most people, however, said they found out about the services from word of mouth.
The services are free and open to the public, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Longie said the help is much-needed on the reservation — and it is appreciated.
“We have a lot of dogs out here that are not taken care of,” he said. “We encourage people to bring the dogs in — even strays.”
This week the Rec Center in Fort Totten was transformed into a makeshift veterinary clinic and people from miles around took advantage of the free services that were offered.
The clinic was presented by the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, as part of their Native Nations program.
Dr. Kate Kuzminski, a veterinarian from Ontario, said the organization is headquartered in Salinas, CA, but includes volunteers and vets from throughout the United States and Canada.
“This particular trip,” she noted, “Everyone but me is American.”
Kuzminski said the crew in Fort Totten this week includes three staff veterinarians, including herself, six volunteer veterinarians, six volunteer registered vet technicians and more than 30 vet student volunteers.
Services include the spaying and neutering of pets, vaccinations, de-worming and flea and tick treatment.
Kuzminski said they don't do many surgeries, but if an animal is injured, they will help.
“Sometimes we do leg amputations or eye ball removal,” she said. “And we will treat medical conditions such as skin problems and infections.”
She said there is a lot of mange in this particular area, so that has been a big focus this week.
“We aren't here to take business away from the local vets,” she explained. “We are here to provide a service to people who can't afford to go to the local vet.”
As a testament to their dedication, the crew has been sleeping in the Rec Center in sleeping bags on the gym floor and eating food prepared in the Rec Center kitchen.
The group has been here all week and wrapped up their work this morning. An exact number of the number of animals treated wasn't immediately available.
The Community Health Representative (CHR) office in Fort Totten sponsors this service each summer.
Fred Longie, CHR Director, said this is the fourth such event on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Two were held, then there was a break when many of the veterinarians were dispatched to the Gulf War, and last year they returned to Fort Totten.
Longie said announcements are read on the KABU radio station and flyers were placed around the Spirit Lake Nation and in Devils Lake. Most people, however, said they found out about the services from word of mouth.
The services are free and open to the public, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Longie said the help is much-needed on the reservation — and it is appreciated.
“We have a lot of dogs out here that are not taken care of,” he said. “We encourage people to bring the dogs in — even strays.”
