by Marty Brown
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 17/97) - After nearly closing up shop twice over the past year, the Yellowknife branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is alive and kicking once again.

The group's members, whose concern is the care and health of domestic pets, are reorganizing and should have a telephone by the end of the month.

Executive members have been burning out at a fast rate over the years but board member Kathryn Paton said the group is financially viable, and there are more volunteers coming aboard.

And that's good news to the board, because now that Christmas is over, the SPCA is getting phone calls.

Kittens and puppies are popular Christmas gifts, said Paton. People get a $400 golden lab under the tree and don't know what to do next, so the SPCA gets a call, she said.

In many respects, Paton said, dogs require as much care as children, but not everyone realizes that until after the gift is given.

The SPCA get calls from concerned citizens as well.

"Right now I'm on my way to investigate a report of dog tied outside on a very short rope," she said. "I'll access the situation and talk to the owners."

To cover costs the group has had successful fundraising this fall between bingos, a family folk night, Santa and pet photographs and donation jars around town.

The SPCA charges $100 for dogs and $75 for cats they adopt out but expenses for neutering, vaccinations and a micro-chipping program all add to the society's costs.

So does boarding the animals, because the SPCA doesn't have a shelter of its own.

Instead animals are home-boarded with the SPCA picking up tabs for food and kitty litter or put in kennels.

"We also want to hold a spay/neuter clinic this spring for pet owners," Paton said. "And everything costs money."

The SPCA meets every Tuesday night at the Storefront board room in the Bromley Building.