For board president Janelle Kennedy and the volunteers at the Iqaluit Humane Society, soon to be renamed the Nunavut Animal Rescue, their motto SA国际影视传媒渉elping those who cannot help themselvesSA国际影视传媒� extends beyond the animals in their immediate care.

SA国际影视传媒淎 good third of what we do in rescue work, is assess and educate,SA国际影视传媒� says Kennedy. SA国际影视传媒淚 get everything from the really crazy emergencies to [the mundane]. People have these questions [about taking care of their pets], and people need help tooSA国际影视传媒� ItSA国际影视传媒檚 really hard at times because there is so much need across the North, and so many issues, weSA国际影视传媒檙e often unnoticed.SA国际影视传媒�

Hard choices, but enhanced services

The no-kill animal shelter, recently relocated to the old veterinary hospital in Apex, was initially started by a group of nurses in the early 2000s.

Kennedy came along in 2010, and has been running the shelter and rescue organization since.

SA国际影视传媒淣o killSA国际影视传媒� status usually means that a shelter will destroy less than five per cent of intake, but Kennedy estimates for her organization less than one per cent have been put down, and those were more extreme cases of ill or injured animals.

SA国际影视传媒淚t comes down to some really hard choices sometimes, but we do our best to work with them and find them all homes,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The organization emphasizes a foster-based approach to its work.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a better scenario for the [animal]. You can get to know it, and train it, learn its likes and dislikes and behaviours. When we know more about them, and the foster-care [volunteers] take photos and describe the animals, [so] helps them get rehomed faster.SA国际影视传媒�

The only animals currently held on site at the Apex location are either in transit elsewhere or in need of specialized social training or vet care.

One huge benefit to having taken over the old veterinary hospital last November, after a massive grant of funding from the Erik S. Margolis Foundation, is that the future Nunavut Animal Rescue will be able to offer a large range of animal and veterinary services on site as well as off.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Covid and homeless years were pretty rough,SA国际影视传媒� Kennedy acknowledges. SA国际影视传媒淲e were working out of my house as the base of operations with supplies in sea cans. We kept dreaming one day we would have a building. For any rescue to operate in the North, the question is always SA国际影视传媒楽o how are you going to keep the lights on?SA国际影视传媒� None of us have ever owned a vet clinic, but we thought, SA国际影视传媒榃e can do this!SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

Serving all of Nunavut

Now that the rescue has an appropriate base of operations, there are already rotating vet visits on-site for about a week a month offering healthcare services, in addition to remote accessibility via telemedecine for simpler problems and diagnoses requiring prescriptions.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a feel good situation for everyone,SA国际影视传媒� Kennedy says of the vets who volunteer their time and services. The ultimate goal is to have veterinarians in on a permanent basis and full-time grooming services available and put any profits from treatments and surgeries back into the rescue. Those profits also help low-income families with subsidized costs of care.

SA国际影视传媒淎nyone who spends any money at the animal hospital should feel comfortable knowing that it goes back to the animals,SA国际影视传媒� Kennedy remarks.

Since August, the rescue has rehomed 300 animals, but has another 800 awaiting vet care.

Already the organization has invested in sound panels and wall insulation SA国际影视传媒渟o we donSA国际影视传媒檛 bother the neighbours,SA国际影视传媒� security equipment, and a paved driveway. Not only are the efforts to build the physical location expanding in scope, but the rescueSA国际影视传媒檚 services are actually offered all across the North.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people donSA国际影视传媒檛 know we send help out to other communities,SA国际影视传媒� says Kennedy. SA国际影视传媒淲e have a lot of connections all across the North. Most people think weSA国际影视传媒檙e just servicing Iqaluit, but weSA国际影视传媒檙e actually serving all of Nunavut. The name change will better help reflect this.SA国际影视传媒�

This past year, the organization was honoured with the Outstanding Volunteer Service Organization of the Year Award by the City of Iqaluit, reflecting the tireless efforts of the volunteers who work not only to help animals, but their owners, who often opt to surrender their pets because they feel they lack other options.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur focus is on helping people keep their pets,SA国际影视传媒� says Kennedy. SA国际影视传媒淧eople have been surrendering more in the last six to eight months due to losing housing, and just being unable to take their pet to their new residence.SA国际影视传媒�

For simpler issues, Kennedy and her team try to SA国际影视传媒渒eep working through scenarios to get to the bottom of the problem,SA国际影视传媒� rather than automatically taking pets.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have to make people aware that we are here, so that they know thereSA国际影视传媒檚 somewhere to go and help available. It doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter where you are in your life. People have pets, and pets have needs. People need a one stop-shop [for their pet needs], So weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to be a hub for that.SA国际影视传媒�

Help those who help others this holiday season

However, the rescue needs some help from the community.

With such a lengthy waiting list for vet care, not to mention triage with emergency cases, the rescue is asking for monetary donations to put towards expensive medical equipment such as an ultrasound machine, SA国际影视传媒渇or pregnancies, lumps, bumps, and blockages,SA国际影视传媒� and a new pulse oximeter to measure heart rates and other vitals during and after surgeries.

In addition, SA国际影视传媒渙ne of the greatest gifts people can give us is their time.SA国际影视传媒� Besides doing things like walking dogs, there are ways to contribute that donSA国际影视传媒檛 involve direct contact with the animals, like cleaning around the shelter, or staffing booths at fundraisers.

In terms of other vital donation needs, the rescue has an Amazon wish-list that can be found on the Amazon.ca site under the SA国际影视传媒淲ish ListsSA国际影视传媒� section, and inputting the search name SA国际影视传媒淚qaluit Humane Society.SA国际影视传媒� Other important items the rescue is always in need of include puppy formula, wet and dry cat food, sheets, towels and pillowcases. In general, SA国际影视传媒渁ny medical or cat supplies are always welcome.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淓very time I think thereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much more to do,SA国际影视传媒� says Kennedy, SA国际影视传媒淚 have to reflect on far weSA国际影视传媒檝e comeSA国际影视传媒� sometimes I have to take a step back and marvel at that. And I just hope we can keep growing and be there when people need us.

SA国际影视传媒淭he way I see it,SA国际影视传媒� she adds, SA国际影视传媒渨e have a responsibility [to the animals]. They didnSA国际影视传媒檛 choose to be domesticated. They have become dependent on us.SA国际影视传媒�

Next month, the rescue looks forward to welcoming veterinarian Dr. Cliff Redford from Jan. 4-12. He is a renowned travelling vet, whose film with his daughter SA国际影视传媒淲orld Wide VetSA国际影视传媒� will be screened for a limited seating audience of 35 at the Astro Terrace Theatre the afternoon of Jan. 7.