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INUVIK
When a seven-year-old dog was mauled by a grizzly bear near Paulatuk, Inuvik residents quickly mobilized and put every effort into saving it.

Inuvik veterinarian Peter Krizan, left, shown with his brother Matt, recently helped care for a dog that had been attacked by a grizzly bear. - NNSL file photo

Linda Stromgren, executive director of the Beaufort Delta Regional SPCA, credits a long line of people and companies for stepping in and saving the dog.

"It was just like a series of miracles," said Stromgren.

On Aug. 29, Stromgren got a call that someone had found a dog injured in what looked like a grizzly bear attack.

"The fellow that called said it was a grizzly attack, the dog had an injured eye and had matted fur," said Stromgren.

The problem was that the dog was in Paulatuk and the Beaufort Delta Regional SPCA is based in Inuvik, run by Stromgren and her husband.

The injured husky and seven puppies were flown from Paulatuk to Inuvik.

"It made for a crazy few days," said Stromgren.

She and her husband, Greg, took in the puppies until they could be flown to Yellowknife. Local veterinarian Dr. Peter Krizan took in the husky for treatment and for overnight care.

"It needed a place to stay and it needed medical treatment," said Krizan.

"It was boarded here but I left it up to the SPCA to make sure it got to Yellowknife."

Krizan said the collaboration between him and the SPCA is something they've been working on for a long time.

"Money's kind of tight for everyone, so if I have the space and the time I donate it," he said.

"When people work together it just seems to work."

Working together as a community is something that Stromgren said is essential to helping animals and pet owners and said increased use of social media has helped spread the word about lost or potentially injured pets.

"The first night the husky was at (Krizan's) he got out of the outdoor pen and escaped," said Stromgren.

"We were panicking but I just put out a post on Facebook and he was found quickly," she said, estimating that the posts help return about 50 per cent of lost pets to their owners.

"It's not just the SPCA and it's not just me," said Krizan.

Stromgren said Aklak Air handles all the flights for rescued animals being sent to Yellowknife before permanent homes are found for them.

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