After a series of recent dog attacks, residents in Nunavut and Nunavik are expressing frustration. In Nunavik’s smallest village, Aupaluk, two girls were scarred after being chased by stray dogs earlier this month. One of them, a six-year-old daughter of Charlie Gordon, was attacked by three dogs while walking to her father’s work garage. Gordon, a first responder, described the incident as one of his worst fears. The girl sustained multiple dog bites and had to undergo rabies injections, but she remains resilient and continues to play outside despite her fears. Loose dogs are a recurring issue in Aupaluk, according to Gordon, who urges dog owners to restrain their pets and calls for the municipality to appoint a dog catcher and establish a pound for strays.
Aupaluk’s mayor, Maggie Akpahatak, revealed that a bylaw officer position is vacant and encouraged interested individuals to apply. She emphasized the importance of leashing dogs, expressing her own fears as a resident. Akpahatak highlighted similar concerns about loose dogs in other Nunavik villages and suggested emulating the practice of tying dogs outside town limits. A study conducted in 2020 indicated that approximately one in 400 Nunavimmiut may have been exposed to rabies annually between 2008 and 2017, with most cases linked to dogs.
In Nunavut, a recent dog attack in Iqaluit garnered widespread attention on social media, sparking discussions about better dog control measures. The RCMP in Nunavut reported that the dog involved in the incident was tethered outside its home, and a youth was injured when approaching the animal. In response to the incident, the City of Iqaluit passed a bylaw allowing the euthanization of impounded dogs with city licenses sooner than before, citing community safety as a priority. The city disclosed that it had impounded 73 dogs, investigated 17 dog-bite incidents, and made 54 proactive efforts to capture loose dogs this year. In June 2025, the city amended a bylaw to expedite the process of dealing with loose dogs.
Overall, concerns over loose dogs and dog attacks persist in both Nunavut and Nunavik, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of regulations and responsible pet ownership.