Veterinarian Kathy Hilland holds a puppy at a September clinic for members of the Blood Tribe. (Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force)An organization that sterilizes dogs and cats on a southern Alberta reserve wants to expand to other First Nations communities.

Volunteers with the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force hope that sterilizing and vaccinating reserve animals will prevent the over-population culls and protect residents from dog attacks, such as the one that reportedly killed a 10-year-old boy on a Saskatchewan reserve on Saturday.

The task force occasionally runs veterinarian clinics for members of the Blood Tribe out of a veterinarian’s office in Cardston.

"There is a huge demand for this," said Nancy Larsen, a founder of the organization. "First Nations normally don't have access to humane societies or animal control facilities like we do in the cities."

The organization is modeled after one in Montana, which has sterilized nearly 30,000 animals in the past ten years.

Volunteer veterinarian Audrey Remedios, who lends her surgical skills to the clinics, said community interest in the most recent clinic was overwhelming.

"It was packed and there were people lined up around the block. Because this foundation runs on a shoe-string budget, we did not have enough vaccines for everyone that came."

While the clinics are free to residents, the Blood Tribe First Nation provides much of the funding.

The Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force estimates that dogs in First Nations communities in Canada have killed at least five children in Canada, including two in Alberta.

Remedios said it doesn't take much for dogs on the loose to become dangerous.

"I think it's a predatory drive because that's what happens when dogs form packs and also they may not have the training and close bonding to people that we're used to."

Organizers now say fundraising is the priority in order to expand their spay and neuter services to other First Nations communities in Alberta.

Alberta's veterinary association is supportive of expanding the program and recently made a provision to allow high-volume clinics to be located right on a reserve.