Published 7:57 am Thursday, November 5, 2026 By Jill Westerman Northern News Services Veterinary clinics held in two dressing rooms at Rankin Inlet’s Agnico Eagle Arena are helping reduce unwanted litters while saving pet owners the cost of travelling south for care, says fire chief and clinic organizer Mark Wyatt. The visits, which organizers try to hold twice a year, focus primarily on spaying and neutering animals. They are part of an effort that also identifies homes outside the community for dogs needing rescue. “We still see a lot of dogs that just end up, you know, getting pregnant, and then the puppies end up getting given away,” said Wyatt. Since 2017, he estimates about 800 dogs have been sent to southern rescues or new homes. Combined with those efforts, he said the spay and neuter clinics have helped bring the community’s dog population under better control. “I’m not saying there are no loose dogs in Rankin. There still are.” The recent clinic brought one veterinarian and two veterinary technicians from Grant Park Animal Hospital in Winnipeg to Rankin Inlet. Working from Monday afternoon through Friday evening, they completed 23 spay and neuter surgeries, 19 appointments and four groomings. The clinic served both dogs and cats, with feline spays among the surgeries performed. “They were very efficient and very good,” Wyatt said. For owners, having those services available locally can make a substantial difference in the cost of caring for an animal. Residents generally pay for treatment, although organizers sometimes subsidize services for people who cannot afford them. Wyatt said clinic prices are lower than those charged down south, and owners avoid the additional expense of flights and a stay in Winnipeg. “If you have it done at our clinic, even though you pay to have it done, you’re saving probably $1,500 to $2,000 from what it would cost you to take your pet down there, get it all done and bring it back,” he said. Spay and neuter prices vary according to the animal’s size. Wyatt said the cost for cats is approximately $200 to $300, with large dogs costing about $500 to $600. “We usually have a waiting list. We managed to get almost everybody done this year,” he said. Bringing veterinary clinics to Rankin Inlet was previously a cause championed by John Hicks and Paige Bird, who formerly owned the Nanuq Lodge, Wyatt said. He initially worked alongside them through his bylaw responsibilities, helping send animals out of the community. As Hicks became ill and Bird moved away, Wyatt took over organizing the visits. For the past four or five years, he said, the clinics have operated at the arena with services provided through Grant Park Animal Hospital.
Rankin Inlet visiting veterinarian clinic provides care for beloved pets
