City of Iqaluit running out of dog tags after changing rules for euthanizing loose pets

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 18, 2025 1:48 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

The City of Iqaluit says there's been a important uptick successful registration for canine tags pursuing caller amendments to a bylaw that allows the metropolis to euthanize escaped dogs wrong a shorter timeframe. 

The amendments, passed June 10, give the metropolis authorization to euthanize escaped dogs 24 hours aft they're captured — down from the erstwhile holding play of 72 hours. In a quality merchandise Wednesday, the metropolis said the change has led to a surge successful canine tag registrants successful the past respective weeks — much than successful the erstwhile 2 years combined. 

So acold successful 2025, the metropolis has issued 264 canine tags, with 173 of those successful the past 2 months alone. In 2024, the metropolis issued lone 151. 

"Every tag helps support dogs harmless by making it easier to place them and instrumentality them location if they get lost," the metropolis wrote successful the release, adding that metropolis unit person besides noticed more community members sharing "found dog" notices connected societal media, checking with neighbours, and making broader efforts to reunite pets with their families. 

"These actions are a wide reflection of the compassion and attraction that beryllium successful our city. This infinitesimal represents much than conscionable an summation successful canine tag requests. It reflects a broader displacement successful however we, arsenic a community, are engaging with favored ownership by showing greater work and awareness." 

Iqaluit Mayor Solomon Awa said the changes are for the information of the community. 

"We person a batch of complaints from residents that the radical being frightened of the dogs and dogs being escaped each the clip and we're not doing thing astir it," helium said, adding that families and children privation to beryllium capable to play extracurricular without fear.  

But immoderate residents person spoken retired against the changes, saying they deficiency compassion. 

Murielle Jassinthe is simply a dog-owner successful Iqaluit. She said her canine Lola went missing doubly portion she was successful Toronto for aesculapian travel. 

"I can't adjacent ideate Lola being taken distant from me," she said. "I rescued her for a crushed and present her beingness is successful jeopardy. That's horrible."

The 24-hour holding play extends to 72-hours connected holidays and weekends. The bylaw besides states that the metropolis volition marque "reasonable attempts" to interaction owners and instrumentality dogs to their homes.  

The metropolis wrote that it's astir retired of tags, with lone 24 remaining. While the metropolis waits for a caller order, it's encouraging residents to usage different recognition methods similar third-party tags oregon penning interaction accusation straight onto collars.  

"This tiny measurement makes a large quality for some pets and their families," the metropolis wrote, adding that unit would station connected the City of Iqaluit website and societal media channels erstwhile much tags go available.