Animal shelter gets security cameras
SPCA president grateful for donation after puppy stolen
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 16, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
When the president of a local security systems firm heard a puppy had been taken from the SPCA animal shelter on Deh Cho Boulevard, he knew there was something he could do to help.
Nicole Spencer, president of the NWT SPCA, shows off the new security cameras at the animal shelter on Deh Cho Boulevard. The cameras were recently donated to the shelter by Danny Cimon, president and CEO of Danmax security systems. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo |
Last week Danny Cimon, president and CEO of Danmax security systems, decided to donate $5,000 worth of security equipment to the organization to better monitor the isolated shelter when volunteers can't be present.
"All of it is volunteer-based so it would be hard for them to invest the dollars to put a system of that nature in there," said Cimon.
At the time of the puppy theft, Nicole Spencer, president of the NWT SPCA, said she wanted to look into getting the cameras, but did not know how she would be able to pay for them.
"I couldn't believe it. It was so, so generous," said Spencer on Monday.
"It's going to help us a lot."
The four cameras, including the necessary software and connections, will be installed on all four corners of the building.
Besides allowing the SPCA to monitor who is going in and out of the shelter, the cameras will allow the SPCA to monitor dogs kept in outdoor kennels.
"Cameras will be a deterrent, as well, providing them with the means to follow up if something does occur," said Cimon.
Cimon, whose company operates across the NWT and Nunavut, is no stranger to making community contributions. "We always have something we do every year," said Cimon.
Just last September, Danmax donated cameras to the food bank in Inuvik after it was broken into and ransacked.
Cimon said he happened to be thinking about making a donation to someone in need when he heard about the missing puppy.
The fact that he has three children and is considering getting a dog for
his family also helped influence his decision.
"At some point we're probably looking at getting a golden retriever and we'll probably go to the SPCA to see if there's something of that nature there," Cimon said.
Although the SPCA currently has an alarm system, it was not armed at the time of the theft.
Spencer said with the number of volunteers that come and go at the shelter, it can be difficult to make sure everyone knows the code.
"It was a wake-up call," said Spencer.
The puppy, named Conner, has been missing since Aug. 19. The mixed-breed husky is now almost three months old and is described as being fluffy, with creamy white fur and beige-tinted, floppy ears.
Spencer asks anyone who notices a dog resembling Conner to get in touch with either the SPCA or the RCMP.
When asked if she would waive the standard $250 fee if Cimon ever came to the shelter to get a dog for his children, Spencer did not hesitate.
"Absolutely," she said.
