It was a heart-wrenching decision for the NWT SPCA to make, but one that became unavoidable.

The shelterSA国际影视传媒檚 steady intake of dogs has been temporarily halted due to overcapacity, said SPCA executive director Nicole Spencer.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 an awful lot of dogs in need of help all over the North. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of the problem. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e just one shelter and we have a wait list of probably 80 dogs and puppies waiting to come in from the communities that people donSA国际影视传媒檛 want any more, or they have a mom that had a litter and we just donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the room,SA国际影视传媒� Spencer said.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut we can only do so much as a shelter.SA国际影视传媒�

For at least the next six weeks, Spencer said despite having a very long waiting list, the shelter has neither the space or staffing available to provide the quality of care the animals deserve if they were to continue intakes from the requests they receive on a daily basis.

SA国际影视传媒淪o weSA国际影视传媒檙e just slowing it down because we just canSA国际影视传媒檛 keep up,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The NWT SPCA shelters dogs from both the NWT and Nunavut.

Overbreeding issue

One reason for the large population of dogs is that owners are letting their dogs run loose and are not getting their pets spayed or neutered, resulting in overbreeding, said Spencer.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been an ongoing problem for many, many years. And itSA国际影视传媒檚 not getting better. All it takes is for one dog to have a litter, and seven puppies can turn into 25 dogs in a year. So thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what the problem is.SA国际影视传媒�

A long-term partnership with the University of Calgary has a veterinary team travelling to the Sahtu region on an annual basis to spay and neuter pets which is helpful in curbing the over population, she added.

The spay/neuter program offered by the SPCA will also see a veterinarian technician arrive from the east coast to offer the service.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut not everybody gets their dog fixed,SA国际影视传媒� said Spencer. SA国际影视传媒淵ou can offer a solution but if people donSA国际影视传媒檛 take that opportunity, then itSA国际影视传媒檚 not really fixing the problem.SA国际影视传媒�

And although many people do take advantage of the service, Spencer said there is such a long wait list, not all the spays and neuters can be done at once.

Wanted, unwanted

Yet another issue Spencer said is that there is an overpopulation of dogs not only throughout the North, but in Alberta and B.C., creating a situation where there is no option for them to send the dogs South to those shelters.

Some of that overcrowding is also due to the number of people who brought home a dog, only to later decide they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 actually want it, she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey got dogs during the pandemic and now that theySA国际影视传媒檙e back to work, their dogs arenSA国际影视传媒檛 socialized so they have high anxiety, and there many people turning to shelters to surrender their dogs because they canSA国际影视传媒檛 or are not willing to do training or just not willing to put in the time.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is a huge problem. And I think everybody needs to step up and do their part.SA国际影视传媒�

According to the SPCASA国际影视传媒檚 2022/23 annual report, 74.4 per cent of total dog intakes were from outside Yellowknife and a total of 361 dogs were surrendered to the shelter.

In 2022, 197 dogs were adopted within the NWT, while 21 were adopted outside the NWT.

For the love of dogs

Spencer said people need to be smart about when they decide to add a dog as a family member and be aware of the level of lifetime commitment involved in its care.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople think that the SPCA is puppies and kittens and itSA国际影视传媒檚 cuddly, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of work and we are short-staffed. So, we try our best and weSA国际影视传媒檙e not cold hearted or anything. We do our best and we try to help as best we can.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut people do have to take responsibility for their animals,SA国际影视传媒� Spencer said.

While the intake of dogs has been put on hold for the weeks ahead, Spencer said if providing food or supplies for the dog in the interim is an issue, the SPCA is able to help supply them with necessities to keep their dog in good health and under good care.

She added that a wait list for intakes will still be accepted by contacting the SPCA and that medical emergencies will be accommodated to the best of their ability.

For people who can take care of their dogs, Spencer said the joy they give in return is unsurpassed.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou know, dogs given unconditional love,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 also something that people are missing out on. They donSA国际影视传媒檛 realize how much a dog can give to them if you just treat them well and take advantage of that love.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey give back way more than we give to them.SA国际影视传媒�