For board president Janelle Kennedy and the volunteers at the Iqaluit Humane Society, soon to be renamed the Nunavut Animal Rescue, their motto “helping those who cannot help themselves” extends beyond the animals in their immediate care.
“A good third of what we do in rescue work, is assess and educate,” says Kennedy. “I get everything from the really crazy emergencies to [the mundane]. People have these questions [about taking care of their pets], and people need help too… It’s really hard at times because there is so much need across the North, and so many issues, we’re often unnoticed.”
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.
“No kill” 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.
“It comes down to some really hard choices sometimes, but we do our best to work with them and find them all homes,” she said.
The organization emphasizes a foster-based approach to its work.
“It’s 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.”
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.
“The Covid and homeless years were pretty rough,” Kennedy acknowledges. “We 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 ‘So how are you going to keep the lights on?’ None of us have ever owned a vet clinic, but we thought, ‘We can do this!’”
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.
“It’s a feel good situation for everyone,” 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.
“Anyone who spends any money at the animal hospital should feel comfortable knowing that it goes back to the animals,” 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 “so we don’t bother the neighbours,” security equipment, and a paved driveway. Not only are the efforts to build the physical location expanding in scope, but the rescue’s services are actually offered all across the North.
“A lot of people don’t know we send help out to other communities,” says Kennedy. “We have a lot of connections all across the North. Most people think we’re just servicing Iqaluit, but we’re actually serving all of Nunavut. The name change will better help reflect this.”
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.
“Our focus is on helping people keep their pets,” says Kennedy. “People 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.”
For simpler issues, Kennedy and her team try to “keep working through scenarios to get to the bottom of the problem,” rather than automatically taking pets.
“We have to make people aware that we are here, so that they know there’s somewhere to go and help available. It doesn’t 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 we’re trying to be a hub for that.”
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, “for pregnancies, lumps, bumps, and blockages,” and a new pulse oximeter to measure heart rates and other vitals during and after surgeries.
In addition, “one of the greatest gifts people can give us is their time.” Besides doing things like walking dogs, there are ways to contribute that don’t 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 “Wish Lists” section, and inputting the search name “Iqaluit Humane Society.” Other important items the rescue is always in need of include puppy formula, wet and dry cat food, sheets, towels and pillowcases. In general, “any medical or cat supplies are always welcome.”
“Every time I think there’s so much more to do,” says Kennedy, “I have to reflect on far we’ve come… 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.
“The way I see it,” she adds, “we have a responsibility [to the animals]. They didn’t choose to be domesticated. They have become dependent on us.”
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 “World Wide Vet” will be screened for a limited seating audience of 35 at the Astro Terrace Theatre the afternoon of Jan. 7.