Sudden closure of Yellowknife's Great Slave Animal Hospital worsens N.W.T. vet shortage

The sudden closure of Yellowknife's Great Slave Animal Hospital has left both pet owners and animal care non-profits in the N.W.T. scrambling to find veterinary care.

The veterinary clinic closed abruptly on Friday, leaving clients just hours to prepare for its closure.

 It was one of only two veterinary clinics in Yellowknife, and the Northwest Territories. Some N.W.T. communities get regular service from visiting vets, but there are no permanent vet clinics outside the N.W.T. capital.

"It's pretty scary," said Amy Maund, a director for Tłı̨chǫ Animal Care Society.

The volunteer-run organization provides services like wellness checks, vaccinations and spay neuter clinics in the Tłı̨chǫ Region. Maund said the organization worked closely with Great Slave Animal Hospital to get pets the care that volunteers can't provide.

"Right now, I have no access," Maund said. "If I have a dog that is hit by a car in the Tłı̨chǫ region and I fly it to Yellowknife under an emergency, as far as I know I have no access to veterinary care for that animal. It's really sad."

She also had to cancel many vital surgeries for animals in the Tłı̨chǫ region that were scheduled to happen next month, she said.

Pet owners were feeling the effects of the closure this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, CBC North saw multiple pet owners parked outside Great Slave Animal Hospital looking for help, including one person who drove from Behchokǫ̀ to get care for her sick dog, and a man hoping to pick up his dog's ashes.

At Yellowknife Veterinary Clinic — the only remaining veterinary clinic in the city — the parking lot was full on Saturday, and veterinarian Michael Hugues said he saw several pets who were having emergencies.

Some of the staff at Great Slave Animal Hospital have said they will be opening a new veterinary clinic, called Aurora Veterinary Hospital, led by veterinarian Katie Denroche.

Denroche told CBC in an email that clients with questions should reach out to her team via the new Aurora Veterinary Hospital Facebook page.

The page has information about how to contact the team, and an FAQ document. The clinic said it is currently prioritizing medication refills and emergencies. It will also be working to carry out some scheduled surgeries from the N.W.T. SPCA surgery, the page said.

The news that staff at Great Slave Animal Hospital will continue to offer service is encouraging to Shane Pike, whose six-year-old husky mix Odin was a client.