As you may remember from the blog post a couple of weeks ago, the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations recently signed an agreement for the District of Port Hardy to provide animal control on the Tsulquate Reserve.
Today I got to go along for the ride as Walter Kehoe, Animal Control Officer, did his first official patrol of Tsulquate!
Here is a picture of Walter with a dog he picked up near the Tsulquate Wastewater Treatment Plant. When he's doing the patrols he will mainly focus on picking up stray dogs. Aries Security, the same company that does security patrols around town (including Tsulquate), does the animal control, which is why Walter's Jeep and jacket say Aries Security.
Once Walter has picked up a stray dog, he will take it to the pound, out on the Coal Harbour road beside the vet's. Here is a picture of Walter convincing the dog to go into the pound :) They do everything they can to treat the animals kindly and humanely, including sending strays that aren't adopted to Victoria for adoption whenever possible (instead of killing them).
They can only take a handful of dogs at a time. The pound will hold dogs for 72 hours for the owner to claim them. If the dogs aren't claimed they go up for adoption or possible euthenasia.
Each dog has it's own big pen, with part of the pen getting natural light and fresh air. The dogs that were already at the pound seemed very happy and well treated, and were really excited when we showed up!
This guy was pretty hungry, and was eventually lured into his pen with a bowl of food.
Here is where stray cats go at the pound. There were no cats there today.
After dropping the first dog off at the pound, we went back to Tsulquate to carry on the patrol. A couple people said hello and pointed out some of the strays. We picked up this dog, and Walter took it to the pound as well.
If your dog gets picked up and taken to the pound you have 72 hours to go out there and claim it. The fine is $50 for a first offence, and it goes up after that. There is a Facebook Page (Port - Hardy AnimalShelter) where they post photos of dogs that are picked up so their owners can be identified.
So there you have it, a day in the life of an animal control officer! We will continue to update you on how our new animal control is working. Please call the Band Office with questions, and say Hello to Walter when you see him :) He is following a contract that the Band has signed, so if you have complaints please submit them in writing at the Band Office to Les Taylor, Walter and
others doing the patrols are required to follow the contract.
- Jessie Hemphill
Executive Assistant & Communications Officer