by Glenn Taylor
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Oct 10/97) - A local man with nearly 70 dogs and little ability to feed them has drawn the attention of the newly-formed Inuvik Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Horst Podzadny appears to love his dogs, and considers them his "children," according to various sources. He is often seen travelling between town and his Airport Road house, hauling hefty bags of dog food on a bicycle.

But the single man has no income beyond welfare and the occasional odd job. Last winter, Podzadny's resources ran thin, and several of his dogs starved to death. The SPCA, Town Council and the RCMP are concerned the same thing will happen this winter. More than a dozen members of the public also attended the meeting to voice their concerns.

The Drum agreed not to reveal the identities of residents for this story after several expressed concern that Podzadny might react violently to the situation. One man said he overheard Podzadny say in frustration last winter, while his dogs were dying, that he should shoot some people to let them know how it felt. "Are you saying he's a power unto himself?" asked one incredulous resident.

"I think we need to help Horst," said an SPCA member. "It's not reasonable to wait for another winter, to watch as the dogs die and him hauling two bags of food at a time on his bike."

Mayor George Roach said Podzadny had been fined in the past over the issue, but that had proven ineffective, and only increased Podzadny's anger and frustration.

"I know firsthand that some of his animals did starve last winter, a lot died, and I know it will happen again," said councillor Dan Davis. "I think destroying the animals may be the only solution." But he warned the SPCA that a destruction order is "not easy to get... Our own animal control bylaw has no meat in it, and it doesn't supercede federal laws, whatever they may be."

Davis suggested that council "find out what federal and territorial laws cover this situation, then look at our own bylaw and figure out what to do."

Another SPCA member expressed frustration with council over lack of progress on the issue. "We sent you a letter about this on Aug. 15, sir," she said to Davis. "If fining is the only way to deal with the situation, then that's better than nothing."

"He seems to be a law among himself," said one resident. "He is such an intimidating individual that people have been pushing this aside. Meanwhile, the problem gets bigger and bigger." She called on council for immediate action, before the winter sets in.

Council decided to establish a committee to review the matter. Several residents at the meeting agreed to sit on the committee, and consider what to do next.