Distal Determinants of health are the political, economic and social forces that result in widespread effects. These forces permeate toward the centre of our holistic circle and influence all the domains and previous needs. For this reason, these distal needs have the most pronounced influences on health outcomes for dogs.
Distal Needs include:
Colonialism and Oppression, Social Dynamics and Community Tensions, and Environmental Events
For example, the Tri-communities experienced further challenges in dog care and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WCVM clinics were unable to operate in 2020 due to travel and gathering restrictions, and there were many more litters of puppies born as a result of the gap in spay and neuter services.
[Ch.5, Pg.109]
At the same time during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, veterinary clinics began utilizing technology to communicate with clients for much broader purposes than was common prior to the internationally widespread lockdowns.
(Bishop et al., 2021; Cushing, 2022; Kastelic & Ogilvie, 2021)
One of the potential ways to fill some of the gaps in access to veterinary support is through extension and formalization of veterinary telehealth, telemedicine and teletriage services.
Police as Intermediary
Knowing that RCMP prioritize enforcement concerning crimes with human victims, it is important to consider what steps could be taken to ensure that animal welfare is optimally supported within the Tri-communities. With ongoing needs regarding dog health and welfare that are currently not met consistently, there was recognition that some gaps could be creatively filled by individuals with knowledge and skills who may not be licensed animal health professionals.
When systemic inequities put people in a position where they could be criminalized, and solutions are out of their control, there is urgent need for creative local and system-wide solutions, including policy change. An alternative model of animal healthcare provided by trained laypeople has been adopted internationally to manage health concerns at the animal-human interface
(Duamor et al., 2021; Peeling & Holden, 2004; Waltner-Toews et al., 2015)[Ch.5, Pg.36)
If dogs can connect us to the land, connect us to culture, and connect us to our spiritual selves simply by doing what they love to do, perhaps they are a gateway to improved health in many domains. With this possibility in mind, we can start to build rationale for considering healthy dog-human relationships as a determinant of human and community health. When dogs are healthy, perhaps so too are their people and communities.
