City commits to meet about memorial for dogs killed in kennel tragedy

The City of Saskatoon wants to have a worker sit down with a local woman who is trying to honour 14 dogs that died in a kennel this fall.

The dogs died after a heating system malfunction at Playful Paws Pet Center back on Sept. 10.

Alix Tumback told 650 CKOM earlier this week that she reached out to the city shortly after the tragedy.

She said she came up with 10 memorial plaques after a grassroots fundraising campaign. She’d like to see eight of them put up at the city’s current dog parks, and two more at upcoming spaces.

Tumback said she was told she’d have to put together a proposal for the project, adding she was told someone from the city would help her – but she never heard from anyone.

Andrew Roberts, manager of special use facilities and capital planning with the City of Saskatoon, emailed a response to 650 CKOM Wednesday.

He wrote the city records show Tumback wrote her initial email about the plaques on Sept. 15.

Roberts wrote that a staff member responded with a message explaining Tumback would need to write a business case meeting guidelines under city policies on gifts and memorials, public art and commemorations and monuments.

Roberts wrote they then had an email from Tumback dated Sept. 25, in which she told them she would put a business case together. 

Roberts said they didn’t hear from Tumback again until Dec. 14, when she wrote them to say the plaques were completed and she’d like to get them posted.

“We know and understand the loss of a loved one including a family pet is a difficult life event. Generally speaking though, allowing residents to install memorial plaques on city property (which would include dog parks) can be challenging,” wrote Roberts.

Roberts said it wasn’t clear if Tumback’s request would fit under the city’s policies, but added staff will reach out to Tumback again to arrange an in-person meeting regarding her application.

650 CKOM reached out to Tumback following the latest response from the city, which came as a surprise to the Saskatoon woman.

While she awaits the meeting, Tumback added one thing the city didn’t mention was the final note of the email dated Sept. 25.

The thread of messages shows an open space consultant with the city extended an offer to assist and even attached policies for Tumback to review.

In his last message, however, the consultant notes he is not “entirely clear on the process for such a request” and that he would touch base once he had more information.

According to both parties, no further follow-up occurred on the matter until Tumback reached out again on Dec. 14.