Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter
Dr. Mike Evenson owns Northeast Veterinarian Services in Tisdale. (Northeast Veterinarian Services)
animal welfare

Southern vet travelling to La Ronge making an impact on northern pet care

Aug 13, 2024 | 12:16 PM

A passion to help animals in need has brought one southern Saskatchewan veterinarian to the North to provide a critical health service in short supply.

Dr. Mike Evenson, who owns Northeast Veterinarian Services in Tisdale, has made the 375-kilometre journey to La Ronge twice in July. During those two visits, he has been able to provide services to approximately 60 animals in need of treatment for ear mites and infections, wounds, skins conditions, urinary tract infections, tooth extractions and euthanasia.

Evenson, who travels to La Ronge with an intern, has also been able to provide vaccinations that no trained residents can provide for issues like rabies and kennel cough prevention.

“We had a client from there that … was coming all the way to Tisdale and saying they didn’t have a lot of veterinary services, and it was kind of through her he got going there,” said Evenson’s wife, Dr. Karen Sigfrid, who agreed to be interviewed because her husband is so busy.

“He’s also tried to help other remote northern communities as well.”

When Evenson comes to La Ronge, he works out of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre, which provides the space free of charge. Before he comes to the community, clients fill out a form about their pet, so Evenson can predetermine what condition the animal might have so he can have the medication on hand for when he arrives.

Evenson has been a veterinarian since 2000 and he specializes in equine dentistry, locomotor diseases of horses, and orthopedics in small animals. During his recent visits to La Ronge, he said he has been appreciative of all the support he’s received from the community members and organizations.

“He’s really grateful for all of the support from the community that he’s received when he goes there,” Sigfrid said. “He can see more animals and he can help more people if he has those other people to help organize it.”

Northern Animal Rescue has been vital to Evenson’s efforts in La Ronge as they provide assistance in the way of client support, advertising and answering any questions to public may have. They also help residents access care by providing loans to clients that they are able to pay back in instalments.

“It is really important to have extra vet services because we can’t rely on the (twice yearly) vet clinics that happen with the college,” said board member Joanne Dickson.

“Pets have different issues and some pet owners can’t get their animals out to see a vet, so any time we get more services in the community, it is really advantageous and there were a lot of different conditions that Dr. Mike was able to address at the clinics. It just gives pet owners another resource. It’s just nice to be able to take your pet locally to get seen.”

There are no full-time veterinarians located in Northern Saskatchewan. Evenson’s next visit to La Ronge is scheduled for Aug. 26.

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com