Inuvik (May 17/04) - The sooner, the better for a much-needed animal shelter in Inuvik, say Delta animal lovers.

Since the inception of the Beaufort-Delta SPCA about four years ago, volunteers have been attempting to raise enough funds to build kennels for stray animals in dire need of assistance.

But president Linda Eccles of Inuvik says despite fundraising efforts, the group is still a long way from the $100,000 needed for the building.

"A lot of our funds go towards support services for the animals," she explains of the associated costs for animals requiring emergency care.

Building a shelter equivalent to the size of about 10 kennels would be adequate, Eccles says.

The cold Northern climate is an important factor in the need for a permanent shelter, she says.

"In such a climate, many animals do not survive the winter.

"And there are people who are not responsible pet owners by letting their animals run loose and by not spaying or neutering them," she says.

The SPCA nevertheless has been actively seeking support in the region to provide a basic level of care to animals.

She says the SPCA is there for dogs in serious trouble.

"We deal with cruelty," she says, shaking off the perception the society charges people.

The lack of permanent veterinary care means animals in need of emergency care are sent to Yellowknife, Edmonton, Whitehorse, Dawson or Calgary on a weekly basis free of charge by Canadian or Air North.

Three to four times a year, a veterinarian from Dawson sets up shop in Aurora College for 10 days at a time to spay, neuter and give shots to animals.

A clinic is also set up in Tuktoyaktuk on an occasional basis offering the same services.

Once a year, Eccles says the Inuvik RCMP hold a clinic to give rabies shots to local animals as well.

Providing such preventative measures for the region's pets is a challenge, Eccles says.

In the North, animals are prone to Parvo, a highly infectious and usually fatal disease.

Distemper is also prevalent, she says, adding that pet owners must learn the necessity of regular immunization.

Inuvik is one of the few Canadian towns in which animals are still taken out and shot as opposed to being euthanized. That's one reason the society continues to persevere in its fundraising efforts, she says.

"It's terrible," she says of the practise.

Inuvik's mayor Peter Clarkson says the town adheres to its animal bylaw, which states dogs must be in the control of its owner.

If captured while on the lam, Clarkson says animals are held by the town and, if unclaimed by the owner, are shot after the third day.

"We tried euthanizing them, but the problem is that if you can't control them, you can't give them the injection.

"A good, clean shot is as humane as euthanization," Clarkson says.

The town is not adverse, however, to giving the SPCA the occasional dog to ship out as an alternative to shooting, he says.

No town assistance

While bylaw enforcement does have contact with and works with the SPCA, he says the town is not assisting in its fundraising efforts to build a shelter.

"We did receive a proposal for building the shelter, a surgery room for a veterinarian and for office space and a paid position for the SPCA, but we looked at the budget the town was spending at $20,000 a year compared to what the proposal was and council said 'no'," Clarkson says.

Plans are currently underway to build a new holding pound which will be ready by late June or mid-July, Jerry Veltman, the town's SAO says.

The 36ft by 20ft pound will be located inside the gate of the landfill site.

It will contain 12 kennels.