Loose dogs a problem in Iqaluit: council, resident

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
CBC News

Iqaluit city council and staff are echoing a resident's concerns about dogs
roaming around and attacking people, with officials saying owners must do
their part to ensure their animals don't get loose.

The Nunavut capital's dog problem surfaced after Paul Lawlor, a resident of
nearby Apex, told council last week that loose dogs attacked his son on two
recent occasions.

"Two weeks ago, he was attacked coming home from school, and it's to the
point now he can't even go out the door to play anymore," Lawlor told
council.

"He's dead afraid because Š the second time he was attacked, he was so close
to losing his eye."

Lawlor urged council to do something about loose dogs because he is
concerned about the safety of his family and others.

"There's got to be something done about just wild dogs roaming our streets
down here," he said.

Community awareness

Speaking in Inuktitut, Coun. David Alexander said he has heard of upset
constituents who are terrified by loose dogs in Apex and in Iqaluit.

Coun. Simon Nattaq also reported receiving calls about the dog problem.

Chief municipal enforcement officer Rod Mugford told CBC News that the city
will respond to Lawlor's complaint, as it has with many other similar
complaints.

"We do the best that we can with our resources. Sometimes they are stretched
and limited, you know, but it's just community awareness, it's the actual
dog owner," Mugford said.

"They let their dogs run loose repeatedly, and we impound their dogs, and
more often they not they retrieve their dog. But that's what it boils down
to is the responsibility of the animal owner to ensure that the dog doesn't
get loose."

Last year, the city received 594 animal complaints and impounded 298
animals. Mugford said community co-operation is key to solving the problem
of loose dogs.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/02/03/iqa-dogs.html