For some months now, PAWS has been assisting with a program which brings young dogs from the Northern Territory to NSW and finding them new homes. The program, which rescues adorable desert dogs, is run by Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu,
These special dogs have received publicity by one of the earliest successfully rehomed dogs 'Mali' winning Woollahra's first cutest dog competition in September 2009 and also by articles in both the Wentworth and Southern Couriers, the Mosman Daily and 'This Life' magazine.
The puppies, which are fostered by Gloria 'The Dog Lady' have had a wonderful puppyhood. Some pups have been with Gloria since they were only a week old and have learned 'doggy manners' as they have to share with 20 other dogs. They are given excellent food, wonderful walks in the bush (including swimming in billabongs) and this means that they don't have the tragic issues of many city dogs which have been abused. All the desert dogs get on with other dogs, avoid trouble and have learned to be submissive. They ignore cats and other animals and like children and as they are crossbreeds they are very healthy due to hybrid vigour.
Unlike the countless number of abandoned dogs rescued from our city Pounds and re-homed by PAWS, the Yuendumu people did not buy the dogs from a pet shop, puppy farm or a breeder. Instead these animal loving communities were just left to cope with domestic dogs that were dumped and, unlike the Dingo, domestic dogs breed prolifically. Seven years ago, before the program began, the local Yuendumu people had to cope with as many as 20 or more dogs per household and, although many of them love their unique dogs, they were overwhelmed by the number as many aboriginal people just want to have 2 or 3 family dogs. Gloria Morales (shown in the above photo) then established the Desert Dog Project and says that "one of the most effective things we can do is to stabilize the breeding cycle and we have gradually halved the dog population, which has hugely improved the health and wellbeing of the dogs. Even with the increase in dog control there is still an epidemic amount of puppies that need loving homes forever and that is where the PAWS team and network is instrumental."
Sadly, despite the work of volunteers and the dedication shown by both Gloria Morales, vet Dr Honey Nelson and Dr Steve Cutter from AMRRIC (Animal Management in Rural Remote Indigenous Communities), changes to funding management by the local shire mean the future and the program is at risk. Ms Morales is currently campaigning for the vital $25,000 p.a. minimum needed over the next 5 years. If she succeeds, Yuendumu could become a national success story and a prototype for all other remote communities.
"There are only so many puppies that we can re-home, and if we are forced to abandon the Desert Dogs project Yuendumu will revert to having a plague of diseased and hungry dogs and this will have a major detrimental impact on the already poor health of these communities" adds Gloria.
