INUVIK - The Inuvik animal shelter found itself with some unexpected guests earlier this month when a dog gave birth.

Animal control officer Linda Eccles said a Rottweiler mix had its litter one day after being rescued from neglectful owners.

One of 10 puppies born to a Rottweiler mix at the town's shelter earlier this month. The mother was taken from homeless owners who were leaving the dog unattended in the cold. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

Ten puppies were born and nine survived the first week.

"We knew it was pregnant, but we didn't expect her to give birth this soon," she said.

Eccles added the pups will now stay in the centre's care until they are old enough for adoption.

The mother will stay with its babies in a special double-sized pen until they are weaned.

Speaking at the shelter on Nov. 16 - with barking dogs all around - Eccles said she was glad the puppies were safe.

She said she often encounters pups in Inuvik that are neglected and don't have any shelter from the cold.

Unfortunately, this sometimes means puppies freeze to death in the winter.

In the case of the pregnant Rottweiler, Eccles said the dog was being kept outdoors on a chain.

"There was no doghouse, and the wind goes through the trees," she said.

One solution she mentioned is that owners can buy straw, which is available at the Arctic Chalet.

Arctic Chalet co-owner Judi Falsnes said the lodge brings in 250 to 280 bales of straw per year, and also lets a travelling vet stay for free.

The bales cost $20 and provide insulation against the cold ground.

Eccles said the shelter is always looking for volunteers, and especially needs help now that it has nine wrinkly puppies in its care.

She also stressed people should have their pets spayed or neutered, so this kind of burden doesn't keep being heaped upon the town's already overburdened animal control.

"It did cause a bit of a problem because this has never happened before," she said.