There was an increase in stray dogs on the streets of Katherine last year as rangers and charities struggled to find them new homes.
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Katherine Town Council said in a statement 251 stray dogs were collected in 2020, a five per cent increase on the 239 dogs found in 2019.
KTC ranger Scott Mannion said if the dogs aren't collected by their owners within four days they are euthanised.
"We get people ringing in three weeks later," he said.
"These dogs are someone's pet, beautiful dogs."
Mr Mannion said all fourteen of the pound's cages were full just before Christmas.
He said people are too reliant on community Facebook groups and word of mouth when they're looking for their lost dog.
He said people rely on the rangers to do the nearly impossible job of finding the dog's home.
"People seem to think we'll find out where the dog came from."
Mr Mannion said there is no one specific part of Katherine where most of the stray dogs are found.
He said the wet season usually leads to an increase in stray dogs due to animals being scared of thunder and lighting as well as cooler temperatures leading to more active dogs.
The KTC statement backs up his claims.
"Over the holiday period there seems to be an increase of dogs in the pound... the weather will influence dogs behaviour, dogs will become more physical during and after rain as the temperature cools down and many dog are afraid of thunderstorms leading to escaping."
Top End Rehoming Group is a volunteer organisation constantly battling to re-home Katherine's stray dogs.
"Yes, we would agree there was definitely an increase in stray dogs in Katherine in 2020," a group spokeswoman said.
"In 2020 we took in on average two to three dogs per month from the Katherine pound."
The spokeswoman said for every dog they take in, there is at least one which is turned away.
"Unfortunately for every dog we do take in and re-home, we have to say no to approximately three dogs, due to not having the capacity to take them on."
Mr Mannion said Katherine has waited years for an RSPCA centre to be built.
RSPCA Katherine manager Kerry Hewitt said efforts are still ongoing to have the centre built.
Mrs Hewitt said she applied for a $230,000 grant in 2020 but was rejected.
She said her efforts have been slowed by personal health concerns which require surgery.
Meanwhile Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Gerard Maley is calling for an urgent review into cyclone shelters in the rural area, after it was revealed the nearest pet-friendly facility is in Palmerston.
"Here in the rural area, we consider our pets as family," he said.
"Territorians in the rural area deserve the same level of protection, for themselves and their pets, as Darwin and Palmerston."
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