A Calgary-based singer is teaming up with a Bragg Creek-based veterinarian to bring contraceptives for dogs to First Nation communities via jewelry.
“It is a great combo that fits with both of our philosophies and also provides something that is unique,” said Dr. Judith Samson-French, Bragg Creek veterinarian.
The Jann Arden jewelry collection with Pearls 365 was debuted in October with proceeds to go to Dogs with No Names (DWNN) initiative.
“I started (Dogs with No Names) because the hospital in Bragg Creek was getting dogs from reservations with either broken legs or they were hit by a car and I would asked ‘what is their name’ and the people always said ‘well I don’t know’ so the dogs became mine,” Samson-French explained.
The veterinarian started the organization in 2009 when she began exploring options for the dog over-population problem on First Nation reservations. As an alternative to dog culls or spaying and neutering feral to semi-feral dogs on reservations, Samson-French proposed using a contraceptive implant.
“I wanted to give them a pregnant pause without surgery,” Samson-French said.
The implant, Deslorelin, is commonly used in zoos, including the Calgary zoo, and was tested in Australia on male dogs. The procedure takes less than a minute and costs $50 to $75 for one implant that lasts up to two years. Samson-French said they have been administering two implants to give the female dogs a three-year “pregnant pause.”
The partnership with Arden and the jewelry line will help fund the initiative and Samson-French said this collection is just the beginning with talks of a new collection to be released next year.
“This is a long-term commitment on both of our parts,” Samson-French said.
The jewelry line uses natural elements such as pearls and stones, where each gem is knotted on silk.
“There isn’t a better way to change the lives of thousands of dogs than by wearing beautiful pieces of hand crafted freshwater pearls,” Arden said in a press release.
“Pearls and dogs – no two alike, a gift of nature and perfect in their imperfection.”
The initiative has been utilized in Alberta, Labrador, Ontario and a Cats with No Names program has also started on the Island of Curacao in the Caribbean. For more information on the Dogs with No Names program go to fawi.ca.
To jewelry line is available at wearpearls365.com.
