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No vet means high costs, painful deaths
More rabies, parvo, unwanted births
in Inuvik animal population
Samantha Stokell
Victoria Phillips has spent more than $5,000 to ensure her animals received veterinary care by flying them to either Whitehorse or Yellowknife. She had to travel by plane to have a cat euthanized and to get medication for a dog with seizures. Just a few weeks ago Phillips flew to Yellowknife to put one of her dogs down. "That visit cost airfare, hotel, cremation and $700 for the vet bill and flying back the remains," Phillips said. "I don't understand why the town doesn't see this as a needed service." Other Inuvik residents fly with their pets for dental treatments, spaying or neutering and treatment for other illnesses. Without a vet in town, there's no rabies shots, parvovirus shots, vaccines or birth control for the dogs. With 3,500 people in Inuvik, and close to half of those having one or two pets, the number of animals in town add up quickly. The Inuvik SPCA is trying to come up with a plan while Inuvik's only vet continues his forced departure from town due to breaking a court order in April 2010. Although Peter Krizan, Inuvik's vet for a year and a half prior to his departure last year, has returned to town occasionally to run vaccine clinics, some residents have called for more consistent service. "Peter has a huge clientele and we're trying our best to serve them," said Linda Eccles, executive director of the Inuvik SPCA. "We want to try and get somebody until Peter can return." Before Krizan became Inuvik's vet, Dr. John Overall of Dawson City would visit the town to hold clinics. The SPCA is in discussions with Overall to see if he can fill the gap. The government stopped offering free vaccines, and hasn't restored the service, since the town had a permanent veterinarian. Parvovirus, one of the illnesses that spreads without vaccines, often attacks puppies when they are in close contact with feces. "They become lethargic, throw up, can't drink and they just give up and bleed to death," Eccles said. "The trouble with parvo is that they can take it to other communities, if feces are on people's boots. The only way to prevent it is bleach. It can last up to six months." The lack of pet services could affect more than just the animals. Both Eccles and Phillips stated that for potential employees thinking of moving to Inuvik, ensuring all essential services are in the community is a major factor when making a decision on a new job. Without veterinary services, families may choose another community. "This has put us in a real 'what do we do situation,'" Eccles said. "We can't step on (Krizan's) turf but we need someone up here." For Phillips, the opportunity to move to another community has arisen and she's moving herself and her dog to Fort Simpson, where they have better access to veterinary services. "They have a visiting vet and are only a six-and-a-half hour drive to Yellowknife," Phillips said. "There are more options to drive out." Right now a veterinary assistant is in Inuvik, but offers services such as grooming and nail clipping, not medical care.
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