Iqaluit city council passes motion to work out issues with humane society
“I know the organization does do good work when it’s working properly, but I don’t know really what’s going on right now”
The Iqaluit Humane Society’s city-owned shelter is set to be demolished next year, prompting the organization to launch a major fundraising drive to pay for a new facility. (File photo)
Iqaluit city councillors have directed the city to work with the Iqaluit Humane Society to resolve several ongoing issues.
During a special council meeting on Aug. 18, originally called by Mayor Kenny Bell to discuss the cannabis store proposed for the city, councillors had a long discussion about problems related to the society and voted on a way to move forward.
“I know the organization does do good work when it’s working properly, but I don’t know really what’s going on right now,” said Bell.
“I’m scared for the city because it’s on our property that it’s happening.”
What began as public complaints on popular Facebook group pages, as well as directly to the city and to the mayor himself about the recent conduct of the shelter, including humane society staff being rude to city staff and keeping a dangerous dog on the premises, quickly expanded to the identification of long-term problems.
While the society has already apologized to the city for being rude to its staff, much of Tuesday’s conversation focused on newly discovered long-standing issues.
“We just very recently found out that they’re not in good standing with the Government of Nunavut through legal registries, as an organization, and they do not currently hold a lease agreement or an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with the city,” said Bell.
“That means that they’re on our city property for free.”
According to Bell, aside from a one-year agreement with the city in 2012, there has been no lease since “at least 2010.”
“We do not provide property for any other organization, non-profit organization, in Iqaluit for free and we have many very good organizations,” said Bell.
At which point he asked whether the society, which had called into the meeting, had any way to pay rent.
“I just find it difficult to answer the question fully, because if the rent is, you know, $100 a month, then maybe my answer would be yes, I think we can fundraise to cover that,” responded Janelle Kennedy, president of the humane society.
“If it’s $2,000 a month, then we would be out of funds relatively quickly and we’d have to lay off all our staff.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that the Iqaluit Humane Society, which unlike other local organizations runs entirely on donations, has struggled.
In 2011, they were set to close because of a lack of money and manpower.
Coun. Joanasie Akumalik asked where the society would go if it were asked to leave its current location.
If a citizen or the city was to give the society land, it would be willing to establish its own shelter facility, said Kennedy.
“In the short term, if we were removed from the property, we would have nowhere to go and neither would our animals and neither would the pound animals,” she said.
For months, animals picked up by the city bylaw officers have been taken directly to the society.
“One thing that seems to be missed in this conversation right now is, at this point in time, we’re not able to fulfill our own animal bylaw,” said Coun. Kyle Sheppard.
“Essentially, IHS is providing a service for the city to help us fulfill our requirements in our existing bylaw.”
Earlier this year the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission ordered the city pound closed because of the state of the facility.
“Rightfully so,” said Bell in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.
At the municipal pound, Bell found heavily rusted animal cages and several fences and windows that showed damage from break-ins.
“I guess nothing’s been done to it and WSCC closed it down in January or February,” he said.
According to Bell, the building that the city pound was going to move into also didn’t comply with WSCC standards, prompting the city to turn to the humane society.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, Bell noted that the building the Iqaluit Humane Society currently uses is slated to be torn down within the year.
“Knowing full well that that building is going to come down in the near future, I hope IHS does make plans so they can operate in some form when that does occur,” said Sheppard.
“It’s my intention to revisit our animal bylaws to change our requirements when it comes to licensing, just to put a system in place whereby there’s no reason to not get a licence for dogs and to treat loose animals a little bit differently than we do today.”
In speaking with Nunatsiaq News, Bell agreed.
“We’re looking at multiple things, including free registration for dogs,” he said.
“So that hopefully everyone will register their dog, so that if they’re found loose, they can easily be tracked.”
The city has also begun posting found dogs on their social media channels.
The meeting concluded with council passing a motion for the city to work with the humane society to rectify the MOU issue and develop a lease agreement, which could buy the Iqaluit Humane Society the time needed to develop a future space.
Kennedy also said that she believes the society will be back in good standing with legal registries shortly.
At the same time, the city plans to redevelop its animal control act and has already begun looking at options for a new city pound area, reducing the need for the society’s services in the future.
City liable for dangerous dog, lawyers warn
The other conversation on Tuesday night focused on one specific animal in the humane society’s care.
“There is a dog named Princess who has been designated by the Nunavut Court of Justice as a dangerous dog,” said Bell.
“City lawyers have told us that it is a liability for us to have it on the property,” he said. “We definitely want that dog gone from the city building.”
According to Rod Mugford, the city’s chief enforcement officer, not only did Princess kill two smaller dogs but it also seriously attacked an individual.
In October 2018, when the Iqaluit Humane Society received the dog, it was aware of the incident involving the other dogs but not the human attack, said Kennedy.
“The information we discussed this morning [during a call with Mugford] is not the information we were given back in 2018, which could have helped inform our decision at the time and future decisions,” she added.
“When we get that full file on her, the board is going to convene and discuss that file and see if we need to make a harsher decision.”
In the time that the Iqaluit Humane Society has had Princess, Kennedy says they’ve had no issues with her.
“We’ve worked a lot with her to correct some of her bad behaviours, get her a proper amount of exercise, etc.,” said Kennedy.
Bell asked whether anyone at the humane society had training and a certificate in dog rehabilitation.
Kennedy responded that the staff do have certificates but couldn’t remember what they were for and offered to send copies to council members.
“She … is wonderful with people and there’s a lot of people who love her very much at the shelter,” said Kennedy.
“We respect the city and the legal opinion and the liability issue, and we are actively looking to move her off the property as soon as possible.”
By that logic a dog attack on any municipal land would mean the city is liable. You should really get the city’s Alberta lawyers to do a double check on that one. Not one city lease says anything about liability to the city and indemnities so ask yourself how it will change anything.
In our town , Princess would have been shot.
This is very concerning that City and the mayor of the city is doing this to the only shelter in Nunavut. Nunavut need shelter, so there would be enough spaces for every dog. I can’t believe city in Canada is doing this to the only shelter in Nunavut. Very inhumane and outdated minds.
Shelters should be a temporary transition place for animals. The term shelter means to protect, not to kill. Why is city condeming shelter by just reviewing this facebook? Facebook doesn’t tell the truth all the times. I can’t believe city and the councils are doing this by just ‘popular posts’ on facebook. The Kennedy, runner of Iqaluit Humane Society that there is no single evidence that shows this dog bit or depicts any agressions. PATHETIC!
And the animals should be taken care of until they are adopted not killed. Can City and Mayor not understand on this? This can be utterly achievable. THE CITY, can help getting the communities involved too, to donate and help, to serve as volunteers, to “sponsor a pet” in the shelter instead of acting very unprofessional.
This seems to be case of wanting people to pay you for the priviledge of volunteering and doing part of the city’s job for free.
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I know the City is short of money.
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That was by design. Ratepayers voted for the swimming pool so the city would not have any money for anything, especially the development of new building lots. That is the only thing supporting the high price of houses in Iqaluit.
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But this money grab is a direct result of the swimming pool.
As a person who adopted dog from the IQALUIT HUMANE SOCIETY, our family knows that they do the impossible to bring back to life animals they find abused, neglected, and to the brink of dying, many times thanks to private funding to help with vet expenses. They also advertise and advocate daily for pets in shelters that are at risk of getting euthanized. But in the end many don’t get to go to loving homes till few years. Can city wait for this term instead of killing dog to grab money?
Very disgusting to read this.
Dogs at sheltets are the unwanted, the forgotten, yet beautiful pets that all they need is more time to find a loving home. This is senseless, unfair, and tragic. There is no excuse that they are murdering healthy, previously owned, neglected, abused dogs and cats or highly adoptable. I cant believe this action is happening in 2020.millenial society.
City, and mayor , can you not understand why ppl are getting mad? You all as a city representatives need to treat the root of the problem: lobby for laws that are effective in reducing unplanned births and shelter intakes by developing low-cost or free sterilization programs for dogs and cats, laws that limit the number of animals bred for profit, laws that promote responsible pet ownership like contracts. Not forcing shelter to close and kill dog to grab money.
Bell, if you do have that much of time to make this poor decisions, please just get out there and help out to actually know where iqaluit is at and why shelter is needed and what really shelter is for. Shelter is to protect dog to stay until they get found by an owner or adopted. Together we can make a change. Their lives matter. Every animal deserves a chance to get their forever home. Some may take longer than others, but there should not be a time limit on life.
Ummm so what does City Council suggest? Bylaw is less than enthusiastic about collecting stray animals and the City has absolutely no facilities to house them! So what’s next? A return to the bad old days when armed bylaw officers shot and killed every loose dog they came across. Be they sled dogs, strays, or beloved family pets? Not sure that Iqaluit’s current residents would stand for that.
All levels of government need to work together to create rescue rescued dog teams for every community and deploy them to the candian Rangers in the spirit of reconciliation and in response to covid.
THIS is TRAGIC and anyone who support this should be ashamed of themselves.
The mayor says : “I’m scared for the city because it’s on our property that it’s happening.” – AND you’d be RELIEVED when the humane society’s gone and see strays everywhere in the city ?? You should be MORE SCARED to see so many stray dogs wandering the streets and see people abuse them. have you thought of any consequences ? i don’t believe so ;;
The mayor only questions whether anyone at the humane society had training or not and if any of them had a certificate in dog rehabilitation. I mean .. does the city even offer anything such as a program where people can get trained and get qualified to train dogs? HUmane society is THERE to ADVANCE animal welfare and inspire a more humane world.
CLOSING DOWN THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS NOT GOING TO DO ANY BETTER. ! PLEASE think.
Canine overpopulation arises when uncontrolled breeding of dogs and irresponsible ownership act together. Dogs are promiscuous species by nature and since not a well defined seasonality occurs in this species, are ready to mate all through the year. Owners frequently claim their rights to own a dog but may be reluctant to take care of their responsibilities. If no laws to regulate dog ownership exist or if they exists but are not reinforced, the imminent consequence will be a surplus of the species ending on the streets or shelters.
Strategies to control the overpopulation of free-roaming dogs include enforcement of law, education of owners and sterilization of pets.
Recommended control measures for dog rabies control include movement restriction, reproduction control, habitat control and removal of straying dogs.
We need you IHS. To the volunteers, the board, the people who donate money and supplies, THANK YOU. With you so many deserving animals have a second chance to be adopted by a loving and caring family. They get a change to be wonderful animals who will give unconditional love to their fur-ever family. Keep up the great work IHS. We need organizations like IHS who are forward thinking (can’t believe I need to say this in 2020!) in Nunavut. Much love to IHS and all those who have helped, do help, and will help. Thank you!
I volunteered at the shelter for 4 years and I can tell you that every effort is made to be responsible. Be it with the animals, the physical building, etc. I adopted a dog that was there for a long time and I happened to be the right fit. That’s all that’s needed here is to find someone who knows and understands dogs that have behavioral issues. What the city needs is a dedicated animal welfare site that is part funded by government and part funded by fundraising. A multi use building that employs people, offers education, a groomer and small store for quality food, toys, and leashes etc. Ideally a new build that has an area for the shelter, the pound, and a vet clinic. If the new Hotel model was a success perhaps that could be an option for the build. The Humane Society runs on the good will of volunteers and as much fundraising as volunteers can manage. They need a budget to continue the good work and to address any concerns. It’s definitely not because of a lack of will – just funds.
Responsibilities of Concil Members and mayor is to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality and ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality. Please please please, STOP squandering citizens tax money and use the money where it should be used. IHS is essential service to all dogs and also to community so do not intervene or block out with the foolishness.
Thank you IHS for promoting the human-animal bond and confront cruelty in all its forms. I support and value IHS in any forms as a 10 year resident of Iqaluit.
IHS enable the provision of humane treatment to the animals that would otherwise be neglected, mistreated or killed. IHS is needed. period.