City bylaw officers are closing in on the motorist responsible for dragging a dog down one of the busiest streets in Whitehorse.

Dave Pruden, a senior constable with the Department of Bylaw Services, said this morning that after asking the public for information about a wounded dog, found on Copper Road Sunday, citizens of Whitehorse have responded.

The Star profiled the incident in Thursday's edition.

'We have been getting several calls,' Pruden said in an interview.

'We have several witnesses that observed the animal being dragged down Hamilton Boulevard toward downtown.

'We're not sure how far down Hamilton Boulevard the animal was dragged.'

The dog has been named Trooper by Mae Bachur Animal Shelter workers. The animal was tied to the back of the truck, which was seen coming out of the McIntyre subdivision at approximately 10 p.m. last Friday, Pruden said.

The animal was discovered Sunday by local resident Stephanie Brown and taken to the shelter. Staff there then informed bylaw services officials of the incident.

Pruden said witnesses to the incident have provided descriptions of the vehicle and the driver to his department.

'The driver was a male, younger in age, we believe he was in his 20s.

'It was not until several cars were honking at him that the driver pulled over,' he said.

Pruden said the bylaw department is taking the matter 'very seriously' and will pursue court action if details of the investigation reveal that kind of action is called for.

'We'd go straight to court; we wouldn't go for the $200-ticket.'

He said although Trooper's case was severe, it was not the only case of animal abuse his department deals with.

Pruden said bylaw receives anywhere from 10 to 30 calls a year involving forms of animal cruelty, though cases vary in the severity of abuse.

John Taylor, the city's manager of bylaw services, said this morning many of the calls his department has been receiving have been from city residents interested in donating money to help pay for Trooper's substantial vet bills.

Taylor said while his department is not responsible for paying for Trooper's care, he is aware the shelter is willing to accept any financial assistance Whitehorse citizens are willing to offer.

'Trooper's care is likely going to be very expensive.'

Shelter manager Sue Edelman said this morning the facility's organization the Humane Society Yukon is responsible for Trooper's bills.

Edelman said Mae Bachur is always accepting donations to help with the care and feeding of all animals but that cheques could be specifically earmarked for Trooper's care if that's the wish of the donor.

She said the shelter does get good deals from the Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre, which is under contract to care for shelter animals, but the number of animals' bills add up to tens of thousands of dollars a year.

'We have unbelievably high bills,' she said. Many come from the shelter's duty to care for surrendered animals.

Edelman said along with donations, one of the greatest forms of assistance pet owners could do for the shelter is to get their pets spayed or neutered by a local vet.

Alpine vet Kim Friedenberg said Trooper continues to be cared for and is doing well, but it's too early to determine total costs for treating the animal.

Trooper's bill would include vet's time, medication and treatment, he added, and final costs depend on how well and how fast the animal heals.

'It depends on how things go as we go along. He's doing very well,' he said.

Anyone interested in helping Trooper and other shelter animals can drop off a cheque at the shelter or call 633-6019.

See letter, p. 15.