Yellowknife (July 23/01) - Imagine looking into trusting eyes. Hearing happy panting and feeling a warm nose while a soft furry face nuzzles into your neck.

Now imagine giving the dog a soothing pat and slipping a deadly injection under its skin.

Part of Laureen Schidlowski's job, as an aide at Great Slave Animal Hospital, is assisting with the killing of animals that have been left at the Yellowknife dog pound.

She loves her job, but it breaks her heart to kill healthy animals. On many occasions, she feels so desperate, she takes pets home -- she has 13 cats -- or tries to place them with friends and family.

Laureen has worked at the veterinary clinic for four years.

The clinic is contracted by the Yellowknife city pound to house the animals as well, organize adoptions and destroy unclaimed animals.

News/North: How many dogs are brought to the dog pound?

Laureen Schidlowski: In a typical month we get about 20 dogs. There are a lot that are claimed but many end up staying here. About half of those are adopted out.

NN: What happens to the other five or 10 dogs?

Laureen: Unfortunately they are euthanized. Sometimes during the holiday season when the boarding kennels fill up we have to euthanize four or six at a time.

NN: What is the procedure you go through when euthanizing dogs?

Laureen: Emotions in the clinic run high and more than one of us ends up crying. You try to have an outward appearance of strength but inside your heart is breaking. There is nothing you can do.

Usually an assistant brings in one dog at a time. The process is a simple needle into the vein. It's barbiturates that puts them right to sleep. They just don't wake up.

NN: What do you do with the carcasses?

Laureen: We cremate them.

NN: What are you thinking about when you are killing a dog?

Laureen: I wish someone could have taken this dog. I hate to have to put down a healthy animal and this could have been avoided. Spaying and neutering pets is the best prevention. The SPCA has programs to help with the costs of spaying and neutering.

NN: How old are most of the dogs in the pound?

Laureen: Most of the dogs that wind up here are under a year. I think they aren't picked up because of behavioral or medical problems. People don't realize that some of the behavioral problems are simply related to hormones.

Spaying and neutering would help.

Another thing for people to remember is that when they get that cute little puppy it is going to grow up. And even when the puppy grows up physically it is still a puppy at heart. An especially good example of this is chewing everything in sight. If the owners can last through the first couple of years, chances are things will get better.

NN: What are your goals as far as stray animals?

Laureen: My number one goal is to see as many cats and dogs neutered and spayed as possible.

My ideal scenario would be that there is a waiting list of people to adopt animals.

This would be wonderful.