The Fan Hitch Volume 10, Number 3, June 2008

Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog

In This Issue....

From the Editor: The Fan Hitch... Enhanced

F.I.D.O.: Andrew Maher and Julia Landry

Fan Mail

In the News

Out on the Ice: Three Days with ISDs in North Greenland

Two Friends, Fourteen Dogs…One Quest!

The Nunavut Quest’s 10th Anniversary Run

BAS Vignette: Lampwick Harnesses

Sledge Dog Memorial Fund Update

CAAT’s 2008 Northern Schedule

The Chinook Project Returns to Kimmirut

Product Review Update: Double Driver Sled

IMHO: On Feral Cats and Inuit Sled Dogs

Navigating This Site
Index of articles by subject

Index of back issues by volume number

Search The Fan Hitch

Articles to download and print

Ordering Ken MacRury's Thesis

Our comprehensive list of resources

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The Fan Hitch home page

ISDI home page

Editor's/Publisher's Statement
Editor: Sue Hamilton
Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
The Fan Hitch, Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog, is published four times a year. It is available at no cost online at: https://thefanhitch.org.

The Fan Hitch welcomes your letters, stories, comments and suggestions. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.

Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut  06791, USA or mail@thefanhitch.org.

This site is dedicated to the Inuit Dog as well as related Inuit culture and traditions. It is also home to The Fan Hitch, Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog.

A small dog is being spayed.
Photo: The Chinook Project

The Chinook Project Returns to Kimmirut

Dr. Marti Hopson, Veterinary Coordinator for The Chinook Project of the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) announced that their team will make a return trip to Kimmirut, Nunavut in late June, 2008 to continue efforts to provide continuity of care to this community. "We are taking four students and two veterinarians. There has been a lot of liasing with the community," she reports.  "They are fundraising to provide us with accommodations, food and cultural exchange opportunities."
 
Back in 2006 The Chinook Project first visited Kimmirut where at the time it was estimated there were about 120 dogs. Upon owners' requests, dogs were dewormed and sixty were vaccinated, with the veterinary team making some "house calls" to the summer islands where many of the dogs were kept. Also upon request of their owners, twenty-five dogs were altered in a temporary clinic set up in a school building. This "field hospital" was outfitted with areas for examination/outpatients, a pharmacy, surgical prep, surgery and recovery and diagnostics including urinalysis, fecal floatation, cytology (blood smears, skin scrapings, aspirates), bacterial swabs and simple blood tests.

Additionally, The Chinook Project team educated community members on basic veterinary care and provided vaccines, worming medicine, bandage materials and other first aid supplies. They also gathered serum for potential canine research and provided an inspiring educational experience for PEI veterinary students.

In 2007, a Chinook Project team visited Cambridge Bay, Nunavut for a similar program and were also very warmly received by this community.


During a "house call" this dog receives an oral dose
 of worming medicine.  Photo:  The Chinook Project

Goals of The Chinook Project are to:
  • obtain funding through fundraising efforts and corporate sponsorship.
  • create a sustainable, ongoing program to provide veterinary care to northern communities while also offering a valuable learning experience to veterinary personnel from PEI.
  • seek acceptance and support from local communities and maintain an ethical attitude.
  • investigate avenues for research.
  • create and publish a collection of non-fiction essays written by The Chinook Project participants.
Partially funded by a grant from the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC), part of the University of Prince Edward Island, The Chinook Project is in the process of raising additional support by applying to airlines and other companies for sponsorship in preparation for their summer 2008 trip to Kimmirut. The Fan Hitch readers can make donations to the SJDAWC and request that they be applied specifically to The Chinook Project. The SJDAWC is a registered charity and even international (not just Canadian) donors should receive a tax receipt for this. Donations can be in the form of cheques or even stocks

Cheques (indicate they are specifically for The Chinook Project) can be made out to the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and sent to:
 
Alice Crook, BSc, DVM
Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre
Atlantic Veterinary College
University of Prince Edward Island
550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3
(tel) 902-628-4360; (fax) 902-566-0958


An anesthetized dog (left table) is prepared for surgery
 while another dog (right table) is being altered.
                                              Photo: The Chinook Project

For donations of stocks, please contact Dr. Crook in advance.

Please contact Marti Hopson, if more information is needed.
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