Clarkson relayed the bad news to Willow Beattie, who appeared on Eccles' behalf, at last Wednesday's council meeting.

"I'm just kind of in shock right now about it.

"I'm trying to put my thoughts together on what to do.

"I feel deceived by the town," said Eccles.

"They did say at the meeting before (in December) that they were going to help us and this is total deception on their part."

Eccles said a new dog pound will not solve the problem with an overpopulation of dogs in Inuvik, nor promote education on how people should take care of their pets.

"I'm not sure why they are doing this but it's really not going to help anybody," she said. "We need a facility."

Mayor Peter Clarkson said the town is still open to discussions with the SPCA, but there were some concerns with the proposal presented to council in December.

He said the town does not want to give the SPCA $83,000 without being assured that it will be able to raise the remaining funds for the project.

And Clarkson said the town will not consider the section of the proposal which requests about $55,000 a year for the SPCA executive director/manager position, utilities and operational costs.

Eccles confirmed last week that once the SPCA obtains a building to work out of, her volunteer position will become a paid position.

"And that isn't something the town is interested in funding, just like we don't fund other organizations in town for their operations," said Clarkson. In the future, if the town decides to put out a request for proposals for groups interested in managing the dog pound, Clarkson said the SPCA are welcome to make a submission.

Clarkson said he understands Eccles' frustration, but said there are people in town on the other side of the fence.

"For every person that's upset from the SPCA that the town wasn't including them in the proposal, there is somebody in town who doesn't think the town should be giving the SPCA any money," he said.

A public meeting was held last night at the Midnight Sun Recreation Centre to discuss the animal control bylaw and dog pound issue, after the Inuvik Drum went to press.