Dog Program
After several years of running an 'unnoffical' dog program, the Art Centre Committee agreed to formalise the art centre's commitment to improving the health of the many dogs in Yuendumu. This program is run almost single-handedly by Gloria Morales, the art centres assistant manager.
The management of the art centre strongly believes that 'healthy dogs mean healthy people'. As part of this program the art centre feeds dogs, de-ticks and cares for sick and abandoned dogs as well as providing daily advice to community members on how to better take care of dogs. WAAA also helps to fund vets to come to the community and sterilise dogs and treat them for various diseases.
All art centre staff do regular dog runs into the RSPCA in Alice Springs with cars full of puppies to drop off.
In November 2007 and January 2008 the art centre together with Yuendumu Council organised for the Veterinary Doctor Honey Nelson to spend several weeks in the community putting down unwanted dogs and inserting birth control implants on as many male dogs as she could. This program will be regularly repeated throughout 2008.
Warlukurlangu staff are very grateful for the support given to the dog program by Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne and 'the gang' from Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney.
Warlukurlangu Artists is a 'very' dog friendly environment. If anyone is interested in adopting a Yuendumu dog, please let us know.
