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![\"Jennelle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4437322_web1_637a3a9c-726b-40ca-8431-caea2dfadf37.jpeg\")
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Jennelle Andre-Sealey, left, and Tatiana Janovcik, with dog Bear, whose jaw was injured by a gunshot on God\u2019s Lake Narrows First Nation. The two women worked closely with Amanda Nobiss through their group Partners in Prevention, a branch of K9 Advocacy Manitoba. (Morgan Modjeski \/ Free Press)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
They say there are \u201csystematic gaps\u201d in dealing with overpopulation and the lack of veterinary services in First Nation communities. They say it is tantamount to a public health crisis.<\/p>\n
Amanda Nobiss, a 37-year-old Winnipeg woman who volunteered with K9 Advocacy and was passionate about rescuing dogs, was mauled to death on the Sandy Bay First Nation northwest of Winnipeg July 17.<\/p>\n
Von Schindler said for too long the debate about jurisdiction has hampered the ability to address the problem of overpopulation in remote communities, which has led to packs of stray dogs being a danger to residents, especially children.<\/p>\n
She said rescue groups, which have acted independently, should be brought together so they can tackle the problem in a unified way.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur communities in Manitoba has been under-served for far too long and tragedy occurs when that happens,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need to get around one table and stop talking and start acting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t About 200 people gathered at the Manitoba legislature Wednesday evening for a \u201cNo More Manitoba Maulings\u201d rally. (Morgan Modjeski \/ Free Press)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The groups say the provincial and federal governments must fund the effort to keep people safe from harmful dog packs. They want a concerted effort on community-led solutions that are Indigenous-led as part of a provincewide strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s vital and it\u2019s past time,\u201d Von Schindler said, pointing out most of the work currently done is fuelled by volunteers and donations.<\/p>\n Von Schindler said for years people have received life-altering injuries or died as a result of stray and roaming dogs, and Nobiss\u2019s death is the most recent tragedy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t keep pretending the need isn\u2019t immediate,\u201d she said, stressing dedicated, multi-year support and planning is needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe communities can\u2019t do that on their own, their rescues sure as heck can\u2019t. We need our government partners to join us and plot this path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The call was echoed by about 200 people who gathered at the Manitoba legislature Wednesday evening for a \u201cNo More Manitoba Maulings\u201d rally.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jennelle Andre-Sealey and Tatiana Janovcik, who founded Partners in Prevention, the spay and neuter branch of K9 Advocacy Manitoba, along with Nobiss, said connecting with communities is a cornerstone of their mission.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to protect the community, you need to care for the animals in the community,\u201d said Andre-Sealey.<\/p>\n She said dedicated funding would help create animal welfare positions both in and outside First Nations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re doing it (as volunteers) after a 40-hour work week. So imagine those positions being paid to be there, doing this every day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n A song recited at the event called Nobiss an \u201cangel to these creatures.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s showing how fed up and how tired the (advocacy) community is. We need government help.\u201d<\/p>\n Kristy Zamonsky, president of Project Artemis Animal Advocates, who helped organize the rally, said presenting a unified front is critical to getting action on the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s showing how fed up and how tired the (advocacy) community is,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need government help.\u201d<\/p>\n The First Nations Police Service release said Tuesday autopsy results indicated Nobiss\u2019s \u201cinjuries were consistent with a dog attack.\u201d<\/p>\n She had been in Sandy Bay to pick up several puppies from a resident on behalf of K9 Advocacy Manitoba on the day before she was found, police said.<\/p>\n They believe she went to the home alone and came across the resident\u2019s \u201cprotective and aggressive\u201d dogs. A community maintenance worker found her remains one day later.<\/p>\n In February, a 56-year-old man died two days after he was attacked by five dogs on Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, south of Riding Mountain National Park. Also in February, a 22-year-old woman was significantly injured when four dogs attacked her on Ebb and Flow First Nation as she walked along a highway.<\/p>\n In 2024, a nine-year-old girl was attacked by 10 dogs in Norway House Cree Nation as she was out for a walk with her dog.<\/p>\n A statement from the office of Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said the government would attend meetings on the issue, noting the minister\u2019s office met with the humane society on Monday. It called the meeting productive.<\/p>\n The province said Manitoba Agriculture spent $1 million to support mobile spay-and-neuter services through the Northern and Remote Veterinary Care Initiative, which the government said, \u201chas serviced thousands of animals and supported many communities across Manitoba.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t The statement said the government is waiting for the results of the police investigation into Nobiss\u2019s death so it can \u201cfully understand what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n The director of Northern Manitoba Paws in Need, a smaller rescue organization, said the number of people hurt by dogs in remote areas is under-reported.<\/p>\n Victoria McNevin, who has run the organization for 14 years, said they work with communities such as Nelson House and South Indian Lake. She said they need help developing bylaws, animal capacity limits and even local dog-rescue facilities.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need the ability to start these programs, to launch them and to get constant spay and neuter clinics in so that there\u2019s not such an overpopulation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s just so many people who have been mauled or attacked\u2026 The children, the elders and the people who live in the community, they\u2019re constantly worrying, \u2018Can I let my kids out to play today?\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy. There needs to be a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwenty-six animal advocacy groups are asking for the creation of an advisory committee to ensure a provincewide strategy on problem dog populations is developed and implemented. (Morgan Modjeski \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n