IQALUIT - Nunavut pets may soon be able to access regular health care if plans to host a veterinary clinic in the city come to fruition.

Iqaluit's Leia Cunningham is pictured here after delivering a lamb at her school, Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Sask., last year. - photo courtesy of Duncan Cunningham

Iqaluit residents have made an application to the city for their home in Apex to have a special rezoning of the property to allow for them to open up a veterinary clinic, tentatively named NunaVet Animal Hospital.

Leia Cunningham, 26, is finishing up her veterinary education at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Sask. – she's currently working as an intern in animal hospitals. She plans to return to Iqaluit and, with the help of her father Duncan Cunningham, open up the clinic which will offer a wide variety of medical services including surgery, vaccinations, and emergency medical care.

Nunavut News/North was unable to get in touch with Leia by press time as she was in transit to Saskatoon.

Duncan said his daughter has been interested in being a veterinarian "ever since she could remember" and that she's always shown a love for animals.

"We've always had animals here at the house," said Duncan.

Currently the Rotary Club brings up veterinarians from the south to service all of Nunavut. Duncan said he and Leia have been planning on opening a clinic for about ten years to fill the needs of the territory.

"There is a huge need," he said.

Duncan said the plan is to base the clinic out of Iqaluit and then possibly travel around to other communities as well.

If the application to the city goes through the Cunningham family will partition off part of their house to become the hospital. If not, Duncan said they will look for another building to operate out of.

"I'm helping her get it started – starting a new business requires a lot of work," said Duncan.

He said Leia's partner, another veterinarian, is planning to work at the clinic but there will be a need for other staff, including veterinary technicians, assistants, and dog walkers.

If all goes well, they aim to open the animal hospital in July of 2011.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.