INUVIK - A black Labrador retriever was struck by a vehicle on Monday afternoon, illustrating one of the problems posed by Inuvik's many loose dogs, says the town's bylaw officer.

"It's a concern," said Dave Ryan. "We do our best to deal with them, but it's difficult."

A dog hit by a car on Mackenzie Road on Monday gets a hand from a group of first responders after being released from underneath the vehicle. From left are, firefighter Candace Seddon, bylaw officer Dave Ryan and Deputy Fire Chief Julie Miller. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The accident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Mackenzie Road in front of the CIBC building. The dog darted into the road and was hit by a car travelling eastbound.

Ambulance attendants, firefighters and the bylaw officer arrived minutes after to find the dog pinned under the vehicle.

Al German, Inuvik's fire chief, said a hydraulic jack was used to raise the vehicle to free the dog, which apart from signs of shock and some blood in its mouth, showed few signs of injury and was able to walk on its own. German also said the dog appeared to be well looked after.

Camellia Gray, a passenger in the vehicle that struck the animal, said there was no way to avoid the dog. She added that, at the time of the collision, the dog was running towards its owner who was on the other side of the road.

Gray said she talked to the man who owns the dog, who left the scene of the accident, and said the man told her he was out looking for the dog. It had somehow broken away from its leash and had a six inch rope attached to its collar.Although rattled by the accident, Gray said she wasn't surprised, given the fact that she sees so many dogs wandering around town.

"I'm worried about all those loose dogs," she said

The dog was not licensed and after the accident was transported to the pound. The owner will have to get the dog licensed and pay a pick-up fee of $75 before he can get the animal back. He might also have to pay a $100 fine for "wilfully allowing an animal to run at large." The fine increases by $100 with each recurrence.

Ryan estimated he sees about 50 loose dogs a day. In fact, he said that earlier on Monday he had picked up a stray dog. He said several residents are concerned about packs of aggressive dogs that gather at night and roam around town.

He said once another bylaw officer is hired by the town, they will have access to two weapons with which to catch dogs on the loose: a tranquilizer gun and a net gun. The latter releases a large net that's supposed to stop the animal, while the tranquilizer takes about five minutes to take full effect. The cartridge has to be retrieved if the shot misses the animal. Training on how to use the weapons will start once the town hires a second bylaw officer.

Eight dogs currently at the pound, said Ryan.

Under the town's animal control bylaw, unlicensed dogs are impounded for a minimum of three working days, while licensed animals are kept for a minimum of five. After that, the town can sell the animal for $25, or destroy it.

The town also has an agreement with the Calgary Humane Society to send stray dogs to the organization, which adopts them out.