Frequently Asked Questions about the IHS

I'm new to Iqaluit. Where the heck is the shelter?

We are located at 1342 Ulu Lane (off Federal Road). There are no identifying signs on the property. It is the white and blue building with the doggie pen out front. The by-law dog pound is located on the side (near the back) of the building. Our door is the front one. We hope to finally get a sign up on the door in the near future and possibly a road sign on Federal.

I heard there's a $10 fee. Do I have to pay to volunteer?

No. The $10 fee is to become a member of the Iqaluit Humane Society. This essentially grants you voting power at the Annual General Meetings. Volunteering for the IHS is absolutely free. We ask that if you're a regular contributer that you pay the fee and become a society member. The money goes towards the overall insurance for the shelter volunteers.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Does that mean if I volunteer and am not a member I am not insured??

Not at all. You are insured but only if you put your full name in our log book when you come for a shift. Those who have paid the membership fee have their names already on a list that is sent to the insurance company.

Who are the Board of Directors for the IHS then?

The current board of directors consists of:

Janine Budgell - President
Bonnie Osborne - Vice President
Charlotte Lamontagne - Secretary
Vanessa Phillips-Glowasky - Treasurer
Lynette Thomas - Membership Outreach / Adoptions Coordinator

Where do the shelter animals come from?

They come from all over town. Some are surrendered by owners who can't care for their pets anymore. The majority though are transferred over to us from the by-law dog pound. Typically we take in the young, often ill or socially inexperienced pups who can't survive own their own.

How long do you keep them?

Therein lies our dilemma. We have a wonderful partnership with the Ottawa Humane Society where we can ship eligible pups to them, at no cost, to be put up for fostering or adoption. The problem is the south has a very rigid behavioral assessment protocol that all the animals must go through. Failure often results in euthanasia. Unfortunately many of the pets we get in can not pass that assessment in their current behavioral states. We lack the funding, manpower and proper facilities to train our shelter residents in the manner that they need. This results is long term tenures at our shelter until we can find homes for them here in the north.

What happens to the dogs that don't make it into the IHS shelter?

The sobering reality about the dog overpopulation problem in Iqaluit is that the majority that are picked up by by-law enforcement are inevitably brought to the edge of town and shot if they are deemed a threat to the public or their stay at the pound has expired. It doesn't matter if the dog as "good" or "bad". If an owner refuses to pay their fines, the dog has been imprisoned for too long or the by-law is short on space they all end up facing the same end. It's a painful truth that the general public chooses to turn a blind eye to but we, as volunteers, must deal with on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is that our limited staff and facilities only allow us to take in a handful of animals at a time. This is why we try everything in our collective power to find proper homes for our shelter residents so that we can bring in new pups.

Does the IHS euthanize animals?

No. We are a no-kill organization. If an animal must be euthanized they are either sent down to the Ottawa Humane Society (at a cost) to receive a humane termination or they are given over to by-law for the alternative.

What can anyone do to help prevent all the needless terminations?

There are a number of ways to help turn the tide. The most relevant is through community awareness and education. Many people do not understand the importance of spaying and neutering their dogs. Instead they let they pets run free and mate with other dogs recklessly. This then spawns a new generation of homeless animals the city must contend with. Another way to help combat the problem in a more hands-on manner is to volunteer at the IHS. As mentioned many times over, we operate solely through volunteer manpower. If not many volunteer, we can't save that many pets. If no one volunteers, the shelter will effective close.

Does the IHS perform medical treatment for injured animals?

We only provide limited medical treatment to intakes we bring in. City residents with animal injuries must consult the veterinarian when they are in town or perform treatment themselves. We can not legally treat any animal unless it is released to us for liability reasons. The good news is the vet is coming to stay this year. Her arrival and base of operations will be revealed when we have more information.

I've come by a few times and you were closed. When exactly are your hours?

Unlike shelters in the south, we do not have a paid staff to manage the day-to-day operations of the shelter. Instead we have a very dedicated compliment of volunteers that show up at set times every single day to make sure the animals are properly taken care of. Due to our low volume of volunteers currently we have had to scale back our shifts. We currently have shifts at 8am, 5pm and 9pm Monday through Friday and 6am, 12pm, 5pm and 9pm on weekends. Shifts typically last for an hour or two.

If I find a dog (or cat) on the street can I bring them to the shelter?

Legally we can not accept animals unless they are (a) released to us by their rightful owner(s) and an Animal Release form is filled out and signed by the former owner or (b) transfered over to us from By-law. If you encounter an animal that you you feel isn't dangerous and needs attention please call By-law and inform them of the details. They will pick the animal up and make sure it is brought to the pound, fed and looked after. If the animal is in need of immediate medical care, is yery young or poses no threat it will be transfered over to us where we can see that it is properly taken care of.