About Kunapa Kari
Kunapa Kari ("Dog Place" in the local Waramungu language), is based in the Barkly region right in the Red Centre of Australia. We mainly service Tennant Creek and the surrounding remote communities of the Barkly tablelands (Ali Curung, Elliott, Epenarra and Canteen Creek and Alpurrulum), but have links with communities in the APY lands of northern SA as well. Dogs are very important to the local indigenous people, and several of these remote communities are located in dog dreaming country.
We work exclusively with camp dogs. They are different from city dogs - mostly raised and weaned naturally on their mums, spending their early life with littermates and other dogs, children and adults of all ages, in busy family orientated domestic environments. many dogs and puppies are not claimed by individuals, yet even these strays share the characteristics Territorians know to be the hallmark of our camp dogs. Characteristically they are calm and confident, well socialised, and extremely loyal to their owners. Our adoptees often give us feedback about the wonderful temperament of our dogs, and their natural intelligence.
Our mission is to promote the humane treatment of domestic dogs, and responsible dog ownership in the region. We aim to educate dog owners in maintaining the health and welfare of their dogs. This includes responsible de-sexing of dogs. We also assist dog owners if their animals have health issues or injuries, providing treatment and rehabilitation (either returning rehabilitated dogs to their owners, or rehoming if requested). We also provide an avenue for indigenous locals to surrender excess dogs and puppies for rehoming. We believe that by helping the dogs, we also help the people, and that is what we want to do.