A pilot program, facilitated by Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), commenced in Kintore in November/December 2007. The program is a collaborative parnership between Kintore community, AMRRIC, the ARK Animal Hospital, and funded by the Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

Following community requests for an animal management program, FaHCSIA contracted AMRRIC to develop and implement a Dog Health Program. AMRRIC took on a coordination role and liaised with the community regarding appropriate services and then facilitated the engagement of veterinarians and a nurse from The ARK Animal Hospital. The threephase program will create an opportunity to improve not only the health of the dogs but have a beneficial impact on the health of the community.

A participatory planning process was undertaken by AMMRIC and discussions held with a wide range of community organizations and groups, including the clinic, council, health and women’s centres, the schools and various places of local employment. Consultations enable community members to voice concerns or animal management issues and to participate in planning the work of the program. Long consultations occurred with each household to discuss the program and the treatment choices and to give reassurance that the program would not be indiscriminately killing people’s dogs. At the same time, data was collected to establish statistics on the dog numbers per house. The AMRRIC EO was assisted in these discussions and surveys, and in the planning process by local Pintupi Homelands Health Service (PHHS) workers Tommy Conway, and community employee Tim, who also helped with the veterinary aspects of the program.

Veterinarians, Drs Jan Allen and Stephen Cutter and veterinary assistant (Melissa Reid) from the ARK Animal Hospital arrived in the community five days later to proceed with the logistical work of the program. With the assistance of Tommy and Tim, all the community dogs and puppies which could be found were fed bread impregnated with a dose of Ivomec® to control parasites. This medication is very effective in the control of internal and external parasites such as intestinal worms and scabies and mange. In total, 143 of the estimated 180 adult dogs were treated with Ivomec® giving approximate 80% coverage. Parasitic control is an aspect of an animal management program which does not require veterinary involvement, but can be managed by Environmental Health staff with training in the administration and storage of the substance. Pintupi Homelands Health Service assisted the program by enabling an outdoor annex to be set up on their premises as a temporary surgery. With the use of a council vehicle and the valuable help of Tim and Tommy, steady streams of dogs were brought to the vets for assessments and surgery. Both male and female dogs that the owners did not want to breed from were desexed. A number of the females that underwent surgery were either pregnant, in season or had uterine abnormalities. In total, 50 dogs (40 female and 10 male) were surgically desexed. Two female dogs were given a long acting (6 month duration) contraceptive injection (Covinan®). This brings the proportion of dogs which have been desexed to 53% of the female and 12% of the male adult dogs. It is estimated that as a result of the 40 females being desexed and 2 given Covinan that approximately 250- 300 pups will now be prevented from being born in Kintore in the next 6 months. After the second visit in February and another in May, approximately 80% of the dogs will be desexed. If the program maintains the rate of adult females being desexed, it will effectively place a downward pressure on the number of females available for breeding. There will then be a natural decline in breeding numbers. The community will benefit significantly from less and healthier animals, less bites, less disease and illness of dogs and humans. Eight unwanted dogs were humanely euthanased on the request of the owners. Four of the dogs that were euthanased had Transmissible Venereal Tumour (a canine sexually transmitted cancer). Many people in Kintore value their dogs highly as companions and protectors. They are aware of the benefits of a dog health program, and most were keen for their dogs to receive treatment. The children of the community were particularly enthusiastic about our work. School groups were brought over to the ‘vet suite’ to engage in the program and have the opportunity to assist where appropriate, ask questions and have some discussions/education about animal care. This program provided an opportunity for our future decision makers to have modeled to them a respectful and caring approach and attitude to their pets and each other.

Outcomes of the program

This program will reduce both the incidence of dog health issues such as worms, scabies, ringworm, fleas and ticks.Further, as these are pathogens that are shared with people (zoonoses-problems that can pass from dogs to people) it will decrease the pool of infection from humans becoming infected with these diseases, resulting in a decrease in human associated health issues such as skin sores, diahorrea, etc. As a result of regular dog program visits for parasite and population control, there will be:

• A healthier dog population with less parasites and zoonoses (infections that can pass from animals to humans).
• A more controlled dog population and a reduction in unwanted puppies.
• Less wandering and nuisance behaviour. The community will be safer because there are less dog bites; dogs remain at home more and guard the house rather than wandering; less dogs chasing cars and less noise pollution (barking).
• A reduction in dog fights, sexual behaviour, and aggression.
• A reduction in canine reproductive tract problems: infections, prostate disease and tumours (mammary and sexually transmitted). There will be less problems associated with pregnancy/birth and risk of female dogs dying. Female dogs often die because they can not get enough food to support themselves and their puppies during lactation.

The team returned to Kintore in February for the second phase of the program. The vets have been already been contacted for follow up support. Anecdotal feedback from the community provides us with positive feedback on the immediate outcomes of Phase 1. “The community has been very quiet dog wise since the AMRRIC Vet team left. There is hardly any dogs running around and those that are left are very well behaved” said one of the Pintupi Health team.

Tommy Conway and Timmy preparing Ivomec sandwiches for the dogs.