AMRRIC (Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities) staff and Board are saddened to hear the news today of the mauling and death of a Maningrida resident early Sunday morning. We extend our sympathies to the community and family of the man who has passed.

 

AMRRIC has been pro - active in Maningrida for many years through the dog health program conducted by the AMRRIC affiliated veterinarian, Dr Ted Donelan. In recent months, upon request from the West Arnhem Shire elect Council, AMRRIC has undertaken extensive community consultations across the West Arnhem Shire to develop a culturally appropriate sustainable model for animal management and control. Throughout the consultations Maningrida residents, on the whole, expressed a strong desire to own as many dogs as they like, but demonstrated that responsible pet ownership and control of dogs must exist for the community to feel safe and be protected. AMRRIC believes that dangerous dogs must be put down in a consultative but lawful fashion to protect the community. The Animal Welfare and Control Strategic Framework AMRRIC developed for and on behalf of the shire recognizes that culture and law need to come together to develop long term attitudinal change and positive outcomes for communities and their pets. Maningrida is ‘dog dreaming’ country, however that does not mean that culture and law cannot work together to achieve this ideal.

This unfortunate incident is currently under investigation. However what is highlighted here is the critical need for comprehensively funded dog health and animal management programs across the shires in the Northern Territory. Many NT programs in the past have been ad hoc, unsustainable and often disrespectful in remote Indigenous communities. This has lead to the situation where veterinary services, education programs and training of local people to drive and own their own animal management programs has been non-existent in many areas. The new shires are well aware that funding for best practice model programs is critically short. The Federal Minister for FaHCSIA is well aware that this issue needs addressing and that animal management is a critical issue in healthy and safe living practices in remote communities.

AMRRIC works closely with the shires, communities and FaHCSIA to improve the situation regarding animal management in rural and remote Indigenous communities. AMRRIC wholeheartedly supports the shires in achieving the much needed resources to effectively work with remote communities to improve animal management practices and to hopefully prevent incidents like this one happening in the future.