SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
With the winter months now upon us, there is more pressure than ever for dogs throughout the Northwest Territories to have adequate food and calories. The NWT SPCA is calling on residents to contribute bagged dog food to communities in need throughout the North up to the end of December.

Randy Hilworth, board member with the NWT SPCA, shows some of the 30 bales of straw Midnight Sun Energy recently donated to the animal welfare organization. Organizers with the SPCA plan to distribute the straw to communities throughout the NWT. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

"The Yellowknife Food Rescue does give food to us regularly because they get it from grocery stores around town," said Nicole Spencer, NWT SPCA president. "But because more people (in the communities) are asking now, then we need more. I am going to add this to our Christmas wish list for people to donate food that their dog doesn't like anymore. Or if they want to go to Wal-Mart and buy a $20 bag, that would be a great donation."

Spencer said the cost of low-end bagged dog food like Purina or Kibbles and Bits in many of the communities is often astronomical compared what one can get in Yellowknife. She said at the Yellowknife Wal-Mart, one can get a bag of dog food for $23 to $25. In Cambridge Bay, for example, the same bag costs $100 whereas in Fort McPherson it costs $80 and Fort Simpson $45.

"For people who do care about their dogs and want to care for them, how can they spend $80 to $100 on dog food?" she said. "It is hard enough to pay for food for themselves."

Spencer said because of the cold weather, dogs are out and burning calories much faster. As a result, they need double the amount of food which can be extremely costly.

The SPCA already donates thousands of pounds of dog food per year through the airlines, particularly through Air Tindi and Buffalo Airways.

"I don't know if people realize that they need to feed their dogs more or if it is just easier in the summer because they can feed them fish or other food," she said. "In the colder months it may not be as easy to get meat and fish.

She said food donations should be dry food because canned meat can freeze and can cause dogs to get sick. She said it is not rare for dogs to freeze to death in the winter months because of being too skinny and too long exposed to the cold.

With continued donations, Spencer said the food will be sent to various community contacts who provide short-term emergency assistance on behalf of the SPCA for dog owners. Along with the food, bales of hay straw, which were donated by Midnight Sun Energy last weekend, will be sent to help keep dogs warm.

"(The SPCA) has a big need for bedding for dogs in the communities," said Midnight Sun Energy president Alexandra Hampson, adding her company gave 30 bales. "It is bulky and expensive to ship. It is a way we can help out when we bring in freight for business."

The SPCA is asking food to be donated to the shelter, Borealis Kennels and Pet Specialities or The Artistic Hound.

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