Maria Canton
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Sep 27/99) - When several small children stopped by to pet Baby last Wednesday morning, the nine-month-old husky wasn't moving.

The kids went across the street and reported the lifeless animal to dog control, who went over to examine the dog and notify the owner.

David Stephens, the dog's owner, says he was horrified and shocked to discover that not only was his dog dead, but that it had been beaten over the head, crushing it's skull.

"It broke my heart. This is a vicious attack on a harmless animal," he said.

"The dog didn't deserve to die like that, Baby never harmed anyone, kids would stop by every day to pet her."

Baby, who was born to dog team leaders, was chained up to the side of the Stephens' row house when the attack occurred.

Normally kept behind the house, Baby was on the side because building supplies for extensive interior renovations had been piling up on the patio.

Iqaluit's dog control officials estimate the time of death at about 1:30 a.m. and the cause as blows to the head.

"When we tried to look in her mouth her teeth were locked together, her tongue was cut in half and the brains were in her mouth," said Stephens.

"But you couldn't really tell what had happened from the outside."

Stephens is hoping that if anything comes of this, it will be local action to stop abuses against animals.

Similarly, local veterinarian Heather Priest says abuses against animals in Iqaluit happens all too often.

"Part of the reason we see abuses like this happening is that there isn't a humane society in town," she said.

"These things are happening out there, but there isn't any recourse for people to take."

Through word of mouth, Priest and Stephens both say they hear disturbing stories about the number of dogs badly beaten or killed in Iqaluit.

The Stephens, who are offering a reward to anyone who can identify the culprit, now have a new husky puppy that a friend of the family brought over after hearing the news about Baby.