NORWAY HOUSE Animal Rescue Network (NHARN)
Dog’s Best Friend Animal rescue curbs northern stray population By Wendy King
D ebra Vandekerkhove has always been an advocate for those who need a voice. She was part of the team who worked in the justice system to secure the use of victim impact statements in the courts. Now, as the director of Norway House Animal Rescue Network (NHARN), she is advocating for northern First Nations communities that are struggling with large, dangerous, stray-dog populations.
The not-for-profit organization’s mission is simple: To reduce dog attacks by reducing the overall dog population. Executing that mission is a little more complicated. When Vandekerkhove first started visiting northern communities, many people viewed her with suspicion. "I was screamed at, I had hands waving at me and people calling me a dog thief and there were terrible accusations," she says.
18 MBiz | november 2015
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