East Pilbara Communities

pilbara-trip-spring-08-187.jpgThe East Pilbara Shire in northern Western Australia is the largest Shire in the world comprising an area of over 371,696 square kilometres (larger than the State of Victoria) with numerous and widespread aboriginal communities. Tom Stephens, Member for Pilbara, asked AMRRIC to take a lead role to secure a more sustainable region wide response to dogs in the remote communities of WA. A partnership between Pilbara Meta Meya (PMM) trishs-photos-066.jpgRegional Aboriginal Corporation, Environmental Health team, BHP Billiton and AMRRIC led to the implementation of the recent program. Initially Warralong was identified as the highest priority and if time permitted; other communities. The East Pilbara Ranger from Newman, Kevin Sanders, worked closely with the vet and PMM teams. The main objectives of a Dog Health Program are to improve health and welfare of the community dogs thereby contributing to an improvement in environmental and human health of the community. The continuing PMM program had been aiding in dog health by regular treatment of internal and external parasites and temporary hormonal sterilisation. The main issue in the Warralong community was overpopulation of community tkalka-boorda-last-dog-1.jpgdogs. Population control is achieved through surgical desexing and euthanasia of unwanted or sick dogs.  AMRRIC programs are culturally sensitive, taking a sustainable, ‘bottom up’ approach.Throughout 2008 the PMM team had been carrying out three monthly visits to Indigenous communities of the East Pilbara Shire. These visits included treatment of the dogs with: Covinan – a temporary hormonal sterilization injection and Cydectin – an insecticidal medication very effective in control of internal and external parasites.

During these 2008 visits the PMM team have engaged with members of Warralong Community and monitored dog problems perceived within the community. The PMM trishs-photos-070.jpgteam actively promoted the future vet visit. One week before the planned vet visit posters were displayed around Warralong community. During 2008 the ranger of East Pilbara Shire has made regular visits to Warralong to remove unwanted dogs. The veterinarians’ visit was aimed at surgical desexing dogs to permanently reduce the population rate in the community.Over the period from Sept 30 to Oct 4 2008 the team visited a total of three communities in the East Pilbara and Port Headland areas. Surgeries were carried out on animals from four communities (Warralong, Mirtunkarra and Tkalka Boorda) in total. Those visits were as follows:

The veterinary visit encouraged community participation on many levels. Indigenous community members were proactive in their support and very interested in learning skills to assist the program. There was considerable enthusiasm from local people of all ages. The people of the communities provided surgery sites with shade, tables, water and power. Local people were preparing dogs for surgery, shaving dogs, tattooing dogs (animals are tattooed in the ear to show their desexed status), cleaning surgery sites post-operatively, administering water to dogs during their recovery, moving them to shaded sites, etc.

warralong-day-2-12.jpgAs a result of community cooperation and team work we were able to achieve a greater outcome than expected. Over one and a half days the majority of adult dogs in Warralong were desexed.The Veterinary Program has succeeded in surgically desexing a large population of the dogs and cats in all four communities. It has all been instrumental in removing several unwanted animals.

By having access to a program such as this on a regular basis, the Indigenous community is empowered to have control over dog population numbers and mo st importantly their human and environmental health. As a consequence of this visit there will be a reduction in number of dogs, faecal contamination, pack behaviour,(noise, rubbish spread, fights),  zoonotic disease,  sick and dying unwanted puppies, unrestrained breeding behaviour, territorial aggression and public nuisance. There an improvement in the health and welfare of the dogs and also of the community itself.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of the Ranger and the great Pilbara Meta Meya team.  [drain file 70 show] 

The East Pilbara Shire in northern Western Australia is the largest Shire in the world pilbara-trip-spring-08-187.jpgcomprising an area of over 371,696 square kilometres (larger than the State of Victoria) with numerous and widespread aboriginal communities. Tom Stephens, Member for Pilbara, asked AMRRIC to take a lead role to secure a more sustainable region wide response to dogs in the remote communities of WA. A partnership between Pilbara Meta Meya (PMM) Regional Aboriginal Corporation, Environmental Health team, BHP Billiton and AMRRIC led to the implementation of the recent program. Initially Warralong was identified as the highest priority and if time permitted; other communities. The East Pilbara Ranger from Newman, Kevin Sanders, worked closely with the vet and PMM teams.trishs-photos-066.jpgThe main objectives of a Dog Health Program are to improve health and welfare of the community dogs thereby contributing to an improvement in environmental and human health of the community. The continuing PMM program had been aiding in dog health by regular treatment of internal and external parasites and temporary hormonal sterilisation. The main issue in the Warralong community was overpopulation of community dogs. Population control is achieved through surgical desexing and euthanasia of unwanted or sick dogs.  AMRRIC programs are culturally sensitive, taking a sustainable, ‘bottom up’ approach.

Throughout 2008 the PMM team had been carrying out three monthly visits to Indigenous communities of the East Pilbara Shire. These visits included treatment of the dogs with: Covinan – a temporary hormonal sterilization injection and Cydectin – an insecticidal medication very effective in control of internal and external parasites.

tkalka-boorda-last-dog-1.jpgDuring these 2008 visits the PMM team have engaged with members of Warralong Community and monitored dog problems perceived within the community. The PMM team actively promoted the future vet visit. One week before the planned vet visit posters were displayed around Warralong community. During 2008 the ranger of East Pilbara Shire has made regular visits to Warralong to remove unwanted dogs. The veterinarians’ visit was aimed at surgical desexing dogs to permanently reduce the population rate in the community.

Over the period from Sept 30 to Oct 4 2008 the team visited a total of three communities in the East Pilbara and Port Headland areas. Surgeries were carried out on animals from four communities (Warralong, Mirtunkarra and Tkalka Boorda) in total. Those visits were as follows:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->The veterinary visit encouraged community participation on many levels. Indigenoustrishs-photos-070.jpg community members were proactive in their support and very interested in learning skills to assist the program. There was considerable enthusiasm from local people of all ages. The people of the communities provided surgery sites with shade, tables, water and power. Local people were preparing dogs for surgery, shaving dogs, tattooing dogs (animals are tattooed in the ear to show their desexed status), cleaning surgery sites post-operatively, administering water to dogs during their recovery, moving them to shaded sites, etc.

As a result of community cooperation and team work we were able to achieve a greater outcome than expected. Over one and a half days the majority of adult dogs in Warralong were desexed.The Veterinary Program has succeeded in surgically desexing a large population of the dogs and cats in all four communities. It has all been instrumental in removing several unwanted animals.

By having access to a program such as this on a regular basis, the Indigenous community is empowered to have control over dog population numbers and mowarralong-day-2-12.jpgst importantly their human and environmental health. As a consequence of this visit there will be a reduction in number of dogs, faecal contamination, pack behaviour,(noise, rubbish spread, fights),  zoonotic disease,  sick and dying unwanted puppies, unrestrained breeding behaviour, territorial aggression and public nuisance. There an improvement in the health and welfare of the dogs and also of the community itself.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of the Ranger and the great Pilbara Meta Meya team.  [drain file 70 show]