The Russell Regional Vet Board would like to clarify our position on the letter to the Editor dated Tuesday, February 10th, 2026.
1) The Board is not against Passion for Paws or anything they are trying to accomplish, however the board is here to represent the best interests of five municipalities; Russell/ Binscarth, Rossburn, Ellice-Archie, Prairieview and Riding Mountain West.
2) The Board would like to make it clear, this was a board decision and the veterinarians have no voting rights at the board level. Our clinic veterinarians and their staff provide and essential service in our area, to the patrons and animals they care for. They maintain and provide a very high level of animal health and animal welfare to the clients and their animals. Verbal abuse towards the staff will not be tolerated.
3) The board’s main concern is to maintain a high level of biosecurity on the premise for animals that come for care. We believe this high level of biosecurity would be difficult to maintain with a rescue on the property. We are concerned about communicable and infectious diseases as the vet clinic is a hospital where immunocompromised and sick animals come for care and healing.

Want to know more? Read the full letter on page 4 in this week's Russell Banner.