RCMP investigating suspicious dog death

SARAH MANIAPIK

IQALUIT — Iqaluit RCMP are investigating what appears to be another violent beating death of a dog in Iqaluit.

Over the New Year’s weekend, Iqaluit dog control officer Chris Groves was called out to the Happy Valley area in response to a complaint of a dead puppy. Chris Groves holds the contract for dog control in Iqaluit.

Groves said he found the dead puppy in a small field, and an object that may have been used to poke the animal.

Groves said that with the help of the public, the Iqaluit dog control service has been doing its job as best as it can.

Sgt. Michael O’Malley of the Iqaluit RCMP detachment confirmed that they are investigating the incident.

Despite this incident, Groves said that over the Christmas holidays Iqaluit’s dog control officers had a normal amount of work to do.

Jonathon Ellsworth, a by-law enforcement officer for the Town of Iqaluit who issues dog licences.

According to the Ellsworth’s reports there are 144 dogs in Iqaluit with licenced tags, although he would like to see more people getting licences for their dogs, he is happy with that number.

Over the past year, Iqaluit bylaw enforcement officers received 269 complaints, impounded 427 dogs, destroyed 407 dogs, dealt with 21 incidents of dog bites, and dealt with 22 incidents where dogs were hit by vehicles, Ellsworth said.

Ellsworth says these numbers are good compared to previous years — one year over 700 dogs were destroyed in Iqaluit.

To get your pet licenced with the Town of Iqaluit, the Town will charge you $10.00 for a spayed or neutered pet, or $25.00 for a animal that is not neutered.

The municipality will ask you to provide proof that your animal is neutered to pay the lower rate.

The solution to the problem of loose and stray dogs lies with the owners, Groves says. They are not being responsible for tieing up their dogs, Groves said.