Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 26, 2007

INUVIK - After a controversial incident in November, Linda Eccles finds herself at home, waiting out her contract with the Town of Inuvik. Eccles served as animal control officer since January 2007.

Linda Eccles has been released as animal control officer and is waiting out the rest of her contract at home. After euthanizing a dog in late November, Eccles was told she was no longer needed at the town office. A group of concerned residents are speaking up for Eccles and want the town office to be accountable for their actions. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

In mid-November, the Inuvik Drum was informed that a local man's dog was killed without his knowledge.

Eccles euthanized Thunder, Paul Petrin's pet, but she insists she was in her legal rights to do so.

In a press release, Eccles states that the dog had no identification and nobody called looking for it. The owner protested after discovering his pet was killed.

Eccles told the Inuvik Drum last week that she hasn't been in contact with the town office since the day they let her go.

"Nobody has contacted me since the day the SAO handed me that envelope," she said. "She told me my services were no longer needed and then she escorted me home and took the truck back."

It was then that Eccles was informed that her contract would not be renewed in January.

Records state that Eccles put the dog down on Sunday, Nov. 18.

She said she picked up the dog on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Petrin said he has witnesses that his dog was home with him until the evening of Friday, Nov. 16.

Eccles stated in her report that the animal almost attacked her in the animal control facility and she had received complaints about the animal being vicious, "with witnesses coming forward identifying this animal as the one who had attacked them," reads the statement.

It was on Thursday, Nov. 22 that Petrin found his dog's remains at the dump, near the animal control facility.

Petrin held town office accountable for her actions, which led to the Town of Inuvik and Petrin settling on an undisclosed amount.

Eccles states that the town broke its own bylaw by settling with the owner.

Bylaw #1508/AC/97 sec. 17(f) declares: "No damage or compensation may be recovered where an animal is sold, destroyed or otherwise disposed of by an animal control officer," reads the statement.

Since the incident, the Inuvik Drum has received phone calls from concerned residents who wish to support Eccles and want answers from town office.

One woman who only wanted to be identified as Paula, said that it was her dog that was attacked by Petrin's dog and that Eccles was dong the community a good service.

"Linda has lost her job over this," she said.

"It was my dog that was attacked, what they say about his dog being friendly is an absolute lie."

Support for Eccles also came in the form of a letter.

Marianne McCashin wrote that Eccles' service is much needed in town.

"The number of unpaid hours dedicated to the SPCA by Linda Eccles speaks to her personal commitment to the well being and humane treatment of animals," she wrote. "This town would be devastated without her."

Town office announced that animal control services are still available in a press release last week.

"Animals will be picked up as required and will be treated in a humane manner," reads the document.

"The safety and well-being of Inuvik's citizens and animals continues to be a priority for Council and the bylaw department."

The release also reads that the town is still looking for adoptive families for stray dogs.

Mayor Derek Lindsay refused to comment on the situation.

A concerned group of residents is planning to bring the issue to town council in the new year.