After turning down opportunities to financially support the Veterinary Assistance Program in the past, Kapuskasing Town Council may have a change of heart. Mayor Dave Plourde says a request by local farmer Selena Rogers for the town to help with not only the reimbursement of veterinarian costs but also to help in the recruitment of more to the community does have merit. He adds the new presentation had council’s interest.
“If we could come up with what Selena is asking for and I think council would be okay with that,” he said. “And we will move on from there and talk to Selena and see what more she needs from council in participation or even hands on we can help there.”
Town Council was asked to honour last year’s request of $1,000 plus commit to a five year program of $1,000 each. Plourde says Roger’s proposal to develop a strategy similar to the way doctors are recruited from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine could be beneficial.
“You go to maybe the veterinarian schools pick out students and ask them to come back and follow along both vets in Kap and hopefully in doing that you are able to retain them,” he said.
Local farmers and pet owners have been concerned that the only Vet, Dr. Ramasurian Ramkumar, will be looking at retirement in five years, leaving the region in trouble.
