A Yuendumu Experience
Yuendumu DHP, Dec 2009 by Jan Allen (AMRRIC Program Manager)
Our experiences in Yuendumu were unique (all communities do have their ‘uniquity’!) This community is located 290km along the Tanami Highway, North West from Alice Springs in the shire of Central Desert with a population of about 1000 residents.
With the end of the Dry season there are roaming brumbies breaking into laundries and toilets desperate for water in the community in the cool of the evenings. We woke up to a mauled carcass of a newly born foal in the front of the house opposite – the result of dog attack at birth overnight. There were also nightly visits from herds of camels, brumbies (pictured) and roaming bulls.Dog wise, Yuendumu has a special history of chemical control (Suprelorin) of dog numbers. As the shire now requires the current DHPs to include surgical desexing, it was a challenging task. That meant surgery on overweight, bitches with miniature internal genitalia. Great !
The Yuendumu dogs also have another asset – besides being, healthy, friendly, overweight and (mostly) inert sexually, they have Gloria Morales – Assistant Manager of Warluk
urlangu Art Centre. Gloria provides year round support and help for community members’ sick or injured dogs and also organises alternative homes (even in Sydney) for the ‘surplus’ dog. A current ‘trend’ in Sydney could be to own a ‘desert dog’ . Read here about adopting a desert dog.
urlangu Art Centre. Gloria provides year round support and help for community members’ sick or injured dogs and also organises alternative homes (even in Sydney) for the ‘surplus’ dog. A current ‘trend’ in Sydney could be to own a ‘desert dog’ . Read here about adopting a desert dog. By the way, the art centre is glorious!
The DHP in Yuendumu in December was supported by another enthusiastic team of AMRRIC volunteers, vet nurses and vets. The community was very supportive, and with help from Gloria and staff we were able to desex 91 dogs including several pups which will be part of the Desert Dogs scheme. It is planned that the DHP will be at least every 6 months.
