Grant: Project Grant

Dogs have been an integral part of the physical, social and cultural environment of Inuit and First nations but also can be a source of health risks in contemporary Northern communities. Attacks, bites, injuries, sometimes death, and the transmission of deadly rabies and probably other microbes are part of the reality in Northern communities. All these dog-related health issues are exacerbated by the lack of, or limited access to, veterinary services, the presence of free-roaming dogs and dog overpopulation, which remain chronic issues in Northern communities. The project's ultimate goal is to improve the health and wellness of Inuit, Naskapi, Cree and Westerners living in Northern Canada by mitigating dog-associated health risks and by supporting the role of dogs on wellness in these Northern communities. The Inuit, Naskapi, Cree and Western knowledges and perspectives on health and dogs will be mobilized during the course of the project as they are essential in contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the health effects at the human-dogs interface in the Northern communities and to inform the most successful sustainable interventions to protect human health and support human wellness. The primary project outcome is the reduction of the dog-related threats to human health and wellbeing in the North (i.e., attacks, bites, potential rabies case management, death), as well as supporting the positive dog-related health and cultural roles following the implementation of community-based, sustainable solutions during the course of the project.