Partnering for Progress: Stoney Nakoda First Nation and Vet Med partner up for animal health and learning

The University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) is proud to celebrate the success of its community partnership with the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. This initiative provides vet care to dogs and cats in the community, while providing veterinary students with important opportunities to learn within a community setting.

Since its inception in March 2023, the Stoney Nakoda rotation has held five veterinary clinic events, collectively examining 1,394 animals, including 979 dogs and 415 cats. This program is a testament to UCVM’s commitment to working with community partners to provide impactful services and opportunities that benefit students, pets, and their owners.

Delivering essential veterinary services

Through these clinics, more than 1,000 animals have been vaccinated, with a total of 1,031 rabies vaccines, 884 canine combination vaccines, and 359 feline combination vaccines being administered to date. This ensures many animals that were previously unvaccinated or due for boosters received the care they need to stay healthy. Moreover, more than 1,185 doses of dewormer have also been provided. This initiative is critical for both animal and public health, as it helps prevent the spread of disease and ensures the well-being of pets and their owners in the community. 

The clinics have also performed 377 spay and neuter surgeries, significantly contributing to population control. By spaying 126 female dogs and 72 female cats, the program has potentially prevented the birth of over 5,000 unplanned puppies and kittens since March 2023. Neutering 94 male dogs and 85 male cats has also positively impacted animal behaviour, reducing aggression and territoriality, ultimately contributing to enhanced community safety.

Heartwarming stories from the clinic

The clinics have not only been about veterinary care but also about the heartwarming stories of the community members and their beloved pets. Jolanda, who arrived at the clinic in a wheelchair, was accompanied by her husband and their dog, Bear, who they wanted to get spayed. Jolanda shared how she adopted Bear when she was orphaned at just four days old. "She was so little, she couldn’t even eat, and I didn’t have anything around. So I found one of those blue latex gloves, got some Enfamil baby formula, and made a little bottle for her from the fingers," she shares, pride emanating in her voice.

Meanwhile, in the cat room, a family of four senior cats await their wellness exams and vaccinations. One of the cats, nestled quietly in its owner's sweater, surprises everyone when he pops out. "Oh yes, he travels in the sweater," the owner chuckles, tucking him back in. Despite being a bit overweight and the owners being directed to cut back on the kibble, all cats receive a clean bill of health. 

Nearby, a large brindle dog named Dinosaur comes in with several small wounds, concerning his owner. "I want to make sure they're healing okay," Dinosaur’s dad says, the love for this dog he adopted five months ago after his original owner passed away is clear in his voice. After the vet ascertains that they are superficial wounds that are already healing, and getting his vaccinations and dewormer, Dinosaur happily heads home with his owner.

Another dog, also named Bear, arrives with two fellow canine housemates. Sporting a cone from a visit a few days ago due to a tail injury, Bear's owner explains, "Haha, she was here last week already. We had to book a second appointment for her spay and to make sure all our dogs got fixed. We don’t need any more puppies running around."

Empowering the community with knowledge

To help support care during the times when veterinary care is not available in the community, vet students create informative brochures to leave in the community. Two of these brochures cover how to treat wounds and manage gastrointestinal issues, and when to seek veterinary care. These resources ensure that when the UCVM clinics aren't running, pet owners have access to information about some of the more common health concerns and can make informed decisions about their animal’s health.

A collaborative effort supported by generous donors

This initiative would not be possible without the support of numerous donors and partners. The Eric S. Margolis Foundation supported the last two clinic events in October 2024 and March 2025 with funding for staff and volunteers, as well as core supplies such as medications and surgical supplies. Additional support has been provided by companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Zoetis, Elanco and Medicom.

In-kind support has been generously provided by many other sponsors since March 2023, including the Stoney Tribal Administration, the Goodstoney First Nation, the Mînî Thnî Recreation Centre, the Canadian Animal Task Force, Bow River Veterinary Centre, and many more. PetSmart Charities of Canada played an instrumental role launching the program via start-up funding through August 2024. 

Of course, people are the foundation of everything. Volunteer veterinarians, registered veterinary technologists (RVTs), and community members have also been crucial to the program's success, with 12 community vets, three RVTs, and other dedicated individuals donating their time and expertise since March 2023. 

An educational experience for future veterinarians

The mobile clinics also serve as an invaluable learning opportunity for students. To date, 25 fourth-year vet students, one vet intern, and seven veterinary technologist students from Olds College have participated, gaining practical experience in delivering preventive veterinary services in the community. This initiative aligns with the University of Calgary's mission to nurture entrepreneurial thinking by fostering cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange and resourceful problem-solving. 

Rouhee Dillon, a student enrolled in UCVM’s Master of Veterinary Medical Sciences program, shares her experience helping with the clinic this spring. “I have never seen such care and love between people and their animals. The strength of the human-animal bond that I witnessed while interacting with community members was amazing to see, and I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to contribute to this rotation.”

As the University of Calgary continues to Start Something, this program exemplifies how innovative partnerships and community engagement can drive meaningful change and create lasting impacts on both local communities and future veterinary professionals.