Dog owners looking to house their pets over the Christmas holiday will be stretched to find a last minute option this late in the game.
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Taggerty Kennels and Sheena’s Small Dog Hotel have been booked out since June.
This year, the kennel’s Christmas list filled up earlier than ever before and it has left pet owners in the lurch.
“We are getting bookings earlier and earlier,” Taggerty Kennels owner Luke Drennan said.
“The Territory is such a transient place and come Christmas holiday time we see an exodus of Katherine people heading home.
“People are left with few options, their best bet is usually friends and family,” Mr Drennan said.
Over the Christmas period there is usually a significant increase in the number of lost dogs wandering the streets.
And with the recent spike in Katherine’s dog population, in response to resident’s fear of break-ins, council rangers in charge of rounding up strays might be working overtime.
Mr Drennan said too often dogs are left to fend for themselves while their owners feast on Christmas lunch hundreds of kilometres away.
“Dogs are like kids, if they are bored they will find something to do and that usually involves jumping the fence,” Mr Drennan said.
“The added complexity in the NT over Christmas is the thunder storms.
“If you have a dog that sleeps on your bed at night, a bag of food left in the corner just isn’t going to do it,” he said.
While there is an annual rush of owners desperately searching for a temporary home for their pets, the dog kennel owner said he endeavours to hold spaces for his regular customers, still adhering to a first-come-first-serve basis.
On any given day one third of the kennel is taken up by dogs owned by regional locals.
“A lot of locals from Minyerri, Beswick and surrounding communities know to get in quick to book.
“There is no way you would leave your dog at home out on community, it is less safe,” Mr Drennan said.
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Taggerty Kennels can house up to 18 dog families as well as six cats.
A long-time lover of dogs, Mr Drennan took over the family business, which has run for over 20 years, with his partner.
He said while Staffies can be troubling to look after due to their highly strung nature coupled with separation issues, his favourite breed to welcome to the kennels was Kelpies and border collies.
“We take all dogs, but would be hesitant to take working hunting dogs, we tend to find they are only okay with their owners,” Mr Drennan said.
According to the kennel owner, Katherine has well and truly reached the ‘fur baby’ movement, he even sees the popularity of certain breeds cycle through the kennel.
The sausage dog is apparently the 2018 breed of choice.
“Katherine is a very dog-loving town,” Mr Drennan said.
“Previously it was pugs and then Staffies, but we have seen so many sausage dogs this year.
“They have attitudes, but they are good kennel dogs none the less,” he said.
Mr Drennan said it was always a good idea to book pet accommodation as early as possible in the year to beat the rush.
With few accommodation options in Katherine and Darwin, pet owners should look to family and friends as their second option.
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