INUVIK - Animal control officer Linda Eccles is pleased with the proposed changes to Inuvik's animal control bylaw.

Eccles said that she saw the draft of the new bylaw as it went to the revision committee.

Animal control officer Linda Eccles is busy cleaning the cages of the dog shelter because of stray dogs. Eccles said that the proposed changes to the animal control by-law could help the community. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"It has a lot of good things in it, a lot for the safety of the community," said Eccles.

"If people are worried about it they can come to the meeting on June 11."

Eccles said she wants to address the concerns that people have with some of the proposed changes.

"I read something about how the new bylaw reads like an SPCA bylaw, that's not correct," said Eccles.

"The SPCA is about educating people about animal care."

Eccles said the animal control issue has been a hot topic for her since she moved to Inuvik and started her work here with the SPCA.

"The first thing I noticed is that we needed a vet here," said Eccles.

"We were doing all the medical needs and it was overwhelming."

Eccles said bringing a vet to town was important because of the high number of pets that needed attention.

Giving the animals proper medication and immunization was also important, she said.

"There are plenty of reasons why a puppy should have its shots, like preventing Parvo, it's terrible here," said Eccles.

Eccles said that in most communities a virus like Parvo is not as rampant because of immunization.

"Now we have the service here, people are more inclined to get their dogs vaccinated," she said.

Eccles said that when an animal is loose, it is classified as an "animal at large." That can be a worry for the owner and an inconvenience for other people in town.

"That dog will go and leave feces in people's yards. He may not be trained and may be aggressive or nervous," said Eccles.

"When a dog is in a situation like that he may bite someone. That is all too common in Inuvik."

Eccles added that she visit people in the hospital after they have been bitten.

"Being there with a parent and their child after a bite is a part of the job and is hard to take," she said.

"It's unfortunate when a five year-old has to get a series of rabies shots and is terrified to see another dog again."

"If any animal comes into the care of the animal control office, if it doesn't have ID and nobody claims it, we have to do something with the dog," she said.

"The town signs the dog over to the SPCA, then it is sent south."

Eccles said the current by-law is outdated and needs a few changes.

"There is a board that handles the changes, they have been looking for ways to make Inuvik a safer community," said Eccles.

"Unfortunately you will get people who are worried about us taking their animals from their front door, which is ridiculous."

"If there is identification or a phone number on the pet, I call the owner first," said Eccles. "I don't always take the animal straight to the facility."

She said she gives a first time offending owner a warning about the dangers of having your pet loose.

"On the second time around I will give them a fine and bring their pet into the facility," she said.