Dr. Mary Vanderkop
Yukon
Chief Veterinary Officer
Dr. Mary VanderKop (1980; Western College of Veterinary Medicine) was named the first Yukon Chief Veterinary Officer in 2010. Her experience as a diagnostic pathologist for over 20 years and Master’s in epidemiology helped her contribute to Yukon’s one health system. As Director of the Animal Health Unit in the Department of Environment, she is responsible for health and welfare programs for wildlife, livestock and companion animals and integrating these with human health (meat inspection, rabies risk assessment and emergency response).
She led the revision of the legislative framework for animal health, welfare and control and it is impossible to overstate how critical this legislative authority is to enable inspectors, the CVO and ultimately elected officials, to act. The tools within the Animal Health Act were exercised through an order (the first of its kind) requiring containment and testing of livestock to mitigate the risk that a hazard to wild populations. Authorization of generous compensation and mandated notice periods for destruction orders are unique to Yukon and acknowledge the relationship between people and their animals.
Similarly, a modernized Animal Protection and Control Act has been critical to outcome-based enforcement reflecting unique Yukon values. In addition to specifying owner responsibilities for care and control of their animals, it provides for management of feral populations, regulates ownership of ‘exotic’ species, establishes pre-conviction pathways to address animal hoarding and supports penalties that are alternatives to fines or jail time acknowledging that those traditional approaches may create more hardship for animals.
The Yukon is a small jurisdiction, our Unit is six people to manage all animal health and welfare issues. Together we deliver meaningful programs including innovative wildlife health surveillance in addition to capture and collaring, as well as environmental monitoring for early pathogen detection. Community dog care programs include funds to offset the cost of dog spays, a canine ID program and funding for rehoming community dogs. Livestock veterinary services include telemedicine and herd health visits including pharmaceuticals at no cost for production livestock. Mary will retire in a few months confident that Yukon’s animal health and welfare have a solid foundation.