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Left for dead

Starving dog discovered outside Inuvik

Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 19/02) - The Beaufort Delta SPCA is asking for help finding the person responsible for starving and shooting a dog on the outskirts of Inuvik last week.

The dog was discovered weak, but still alive, tied to a tree by a short length of rope.

It had been shot in the head several days prior. A few paces away, a dead husky was tied to another tree. SPCA officials believe this dog was shot by the same person.

Clovis Savoie, a 41-year-old welder, stumbled across the two animals Thursday morning.

"I just about threw up," Savoie said. "It's sick to see something like that. That poor thing, just skin and bones. And it's not a bad dog. It was jumping up, asking to go home."

The wounded dog was taken to the Beaufort Delta Regional SPCA, where manager Linda Eccles said it later died.

The SPCA euthanized it Thursday evening.

Eccles said it was one of the worst cases of animal abuse she's ever seen.

"It's a problem in this town that needs to be addressed. There are a few people that feel an animal is just a possession like a rock that they can just toss around and hurt. They have no right to harm any creature."

She said people with unwanted dogs should contact her because she can help find homes for pets, or at least euthanize unwanted animals humanely.

"We'll be making every attempt to find out who this person is," Eccles said. "Under the Criminal Code of Canada, people can be charged for cruelty to animals."

The dog was a male German shepherd-mixed breed, mostly black and grey with tan markings on its legs, head and belly. It was wearing a green collar.

Inuvik bylaw officer Randy Shermack said the north end of Navy Road seems to be a favourite location for people wanting to get rid of unwanted dogs.

"It's happened out there on numerous occasions. We find dogs with plywood on their heads, shot." Shermack said he checks the area weekly and dead dogs turn up about once a month. Without any witnesses, it is next to impossible to find the people responsible.

"There are sick people out there," Shermack said.

"This needs to stop."