WASAGAMACK — Armed with a bag of dog food and a determination to help, Keith Ranville has become a familiar figure across Wasagamack Anisininew Nation, walking or driving the community and leaving food for dogs he finds hungry or roaming.
Why the rounds started
Ranville, affectionately called the “dogfather” in the northeastern Manitoba community, began doing the rounds about four years ago after witnessing a rise in dogs scavenging for scraps. Some animals were behaving aggressively toward one another and occasionally toward people, he said, prompting him to act.
"I grab a bag every day and I basically just go around town and feed the dogs. If I'm driving by and I see a dog along the road, I'll try to feed it wherever I am."
Wasagamack is a fly-in First Nation in the Island Lake region, roughly 470 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. The remoteness of the community presents logistical challenges for regular access to pet supplies and veterinary care.
Partnership with Winnipeg Humane Society
Ranville reached out to the Winnipeg Humane Society for assistance. The humane society’s One Health outreach program has been delivering dog food to the community ever since, according to Crystal Pariseau, director of clinic operations for the society.
Pariseau said the One Health program often works with northern and remote Indigenous communities that have constrained access to veterinary services and pet supplies. The program can provide:
- educational programming,
- vaccines,
- spay and neuter clinics,
- food distribution, and
- other animal-care support tailored to community needs.
Pariseau added that when communities require food — a pressing need that can be worsened by environmental disasters and supply disruptions — the humane society steps in to help.
Scope of assistance
While Ranville supplies individual animals daily, the reach of a coordinated program helps address broader issues such as nutrition, disease prevention and population control through spay and neuter services. In remote settings, these supports can reduce aggressive encounters over scarce resources and improve both animal and public health.
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Food distribution | Alleviate hunger, reduce scavenging and conflict |
| Vaccination clinics | Prevent disease spread among animals and to people |
| Spay/neuter programs | Manage population growth and reduce strays |
| Education | Inform residents about animal care and safety |
Local impact and community response
In Wasagamack, Ranville’s efforts are recognised and appreciated by many residents. The combination of a local volunteer stepping in and the external support of a larger humane agency has helped keep immediate needs met while creating pathways for longer-term animal-care solutions.
The story underscores a recurring challenge for remote communities across Manitoba and the Prairies: limited, intermittent access to veterinary services and supplies. Outreach programs like One Health aim to bridge that gap, but local volunteers remain essential to delivering aid between visits and clinics.
Practical takeaways for remote communities
The situation in Wasagamack highlights several practical points for other remote communities that face similar animal welfare challenges:
- Local volunteers can provide immediate relief and monitoring.
- Partnerships with regional animal welfare organisations can bring supplies and clinics.
- Spay/neuter and vaccination efforts are key to long-term improvements.
For communities seeking assistance, contacting regional humane societies or public health offices can be a first step toward arranging outreach visits or supply deliveries.
The combination of community care and outreach services in Wasagamack illustrates how grassroots action paired with organisational support can improve animal welfare in remote parts of Manitoba. Ranville’s daily rounds remain a practical demonstration of that cooperation — one bag of food at a time.
Reporting from the Island Lake region.
