Spay Neuter Mobile comes to Akwesasne

Submitted by Les Benedict, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Environment Division

In the quiet hours of Saturday morning, July 26, 2008 a white mobile home turned into the Tribal parking lot. What at first looked like a vacationing RV’s soon revealed itself as a mobile animal clinic, with the slogan, “Stop Littering” and decals of cats and dogs rather than the usual state sticker maps.

The mobile clinic, known also as the Spay, Neuter, Now, Neuter Commuter was greeted by several sleepy eyed but anxious community members and their pet dogs. Tribal Animal Control Officer, Derek Comins, his two sons Austin and Aidan and Jim McHugh, Precious Pups animal rescue had all been waiting with the community members and their pets earlier, assuring them that this was the day and “they” would be here soon.

Shortly following its arrival the mobile clinic’s crew consisting of the mobile clinics founder, the veterinarian and two animal technicians pulled up to the maintenance garage and sprang into action. The mobile clinic was positioned to access power, the patient list was reviewed and information was taken from the pet owners, pets were weighed in and kennels were set up and prepared for patient recovery.

What followed next was a long and tedious day of pre-op prep, surgery and recovery from spaying and neutering operations. Derek and his two sons stayed with animals as they recovered and assisted with caring for the dogs as they emerged from their drug induced sleep. Some animals were quicker to recover than others but all need gentle petting and massaging and a kind voice to coax them into moving about. Pet owners periodically returned from their busy days to pick up their pets, still a little bit groggy. One could see the smiles of children’s faces and wags on dogs tails as they were reunited and then on their way.

The day was long and by the time all was said and done the team of veterinarian professionals and caring people put in about a 12-hour day. As quietly as the mobile clinic appeared it left at the end of the day.

What took place on this day, unheralded, will have a lasting effect on this community. This was the first spay/neuter clinic to take place in Akwesasne. Several community members took great responsibility in caring for their animals by having them spayed or neutered, preventing unwanted litters, and the first step in gaining control over animal populations in Akwesasne. Many thanks to the founder of Spay/Neuter/Now, Bea Schermerhorn, Dr. Sophia Theodore, Ms. Ann Lasher, Licensed Veterinary Technician and Ms. Connie Lamb, Licensed Veterinary Technician and to Derek Comins, Tribal Animal Control Officer and his two sons Austin and Adrian for coming out on a Saturday morning to take the first steps toward animal care and responsibility in Akwesasne. Austin and Aidan had an excellent opportunity to observe surgical procedures in progress and to ask questions about veterinary science. Hats off to these two young men who volunteered their time when they could otherwise have been doing something else with their time.

This event was sponsored by the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment (ATFE) and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. It was coordinated by the ATFE, the Tribe, Lisa Cornea and Jim McHugh of Precious Pups and the Spay Neuter Now program.

Spay Neuter Now is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation. Their goal is helping animals, people and communities. As an organization they provide assistance to low, fixed income, seniors and persons on disability with the cost of spaying, provide spay/neuter for feral cats and promote humane treatment of animals through outreach and education. Their website is, http://www.spayneuternow.org/.