Pooch on the wing: Iqaluit Humane Society flies more than 400 dogs to new homes in 2016

The Iqaluit Humane Society was busier than ever last year, flying hundreds of animals down to Quebec for adoption, and, for the first time,taking in dozens from the communities.

The society measures how many dogs theymove in terms of cargo weight.Since February 2016, the grouphas sent 1,500 kilograms worth of dog down to theSPCA of Western QuebecinGatineau.

• First Air partners with Iqaluit Humane Society to fly dogs to Ottawa

A further 500 to 600kilograms of dog arrived inIqaluit last year from thecommunities, thanks to a newagreement with First Air.

"My estimate is that it amounts to 417 dogs," says society president Janelle Kennedy.

Kennedy says they are very thankful to First Air.

"If we couldn't bring them from communities, I mean the only choice communities have is to destroy them.

"There's no one really to blame. I mean if the animals have nowhere to go, it's either destroy them or maybe they starve to death or maybe they freeze to death or there could be a worse fate waiting for them."

Ten to 15 animalsarriveat the shelter every week, says Kennedy.

Whilemostdogs the societysends south originateinIqaluit,the animalsflown infrom the communities often take more time and effort. Dogs can get apprehended running free in the communities, and the society tries to find theirowners before the dogs are sent south, says Kennedy.

"Sometimes we get really urgent calls. They'll have a litter of puppies or a couple of dogs at the dump in some community and they'll say, 'these are being shot today if you don't take them.'"

Even in cases like that, the humane society hasbeen accused of stealing dogs, Kennedy says.

"Animal rescue is complicated sometimes. But at the end of the day we're all trying to do our best and keep the best interest of the animal in mind and we help owners as much as we possibly can, we understand what some of those struggles and challenges are."

Dogs aren't the only animals to receive a second lease on life because of the society's work. In 2016, they rescued between 50 and60 cats.