Paws Darwin      

Paws Darwin is a shelter with a difference.  It was established in Yarrawonga, Darwin in 2007 and opened it's doors to the public on the 1st July, 2008.  The shelter has wildlife, reptiles, and domestic cats and dogs as their regular visitors that call the shelter home for various lengths of time.  Their charter is to supply the public with a dog and cat adoption service and to ensure that they rehome the best possible candidates for the community.  Two members of the shelter staff travelled to Queensland early 2009 to attend a training course with Craig A Murray Dog Training.  The purpose for this training was to extend the skills of the shelter staff so that they can administer some basic training to the adoption animals before they go to their new owners.  Outcomes of that visit also include compulsory pet ownership seminars to new adoption candidates to ensure that people understand the importance of structure in their animals life and to have a realistic expectation of the animal's behaviour.  Throughout this pet ownership seminar the shelter staff cover topics such as settling in periods, introductions to other animals in the household etc.  

February 2010 saw Craig and Tracey Murray live in at the shelter for a two week period to assist the staff with assessment processes, clicker training for motivational purposes, shaping retrieves and identifying drives and also more advanced obedience exercises.  The staff currently run weekly training classes from puppyhood through to adult obedience classes.  They also have a wonderful rehoming program that will soon be available online - with questionnaires and assessments before adoption.  Whilst in Darwin, Craig and Tracey also took home shelter animals that were identified as having nice drives for working purposes so keep an eye out on their website for progress reports.  Craig and Tracey are also proud to be major sponsors of the shelter. 

Should you wish to find out more about Paws Darwin, please feel free to call the team on 08 8932 9496.