Remote Community Dog and Cat Treatment Programs

The Ark Animal Hospital, in partnership with AMRRIC (Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities), proudly runs the Remote Community Pet Treatment Program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the Northern Territory, including the Tiwi Islands, as well as in Queensland and Western Australia.

This program is about standing as allies with mob, addressing the unique challenges faced in remote areas where access to veterinary care can be limited, and recognising the deep cultural connection between people and their animals.

Veterinary teams travel to these communities to provide essential services such as vaccinations, desexing, worming, and treatment for sick or injured animals. These programs are about more than just treating animals—they are built on partnerships that listen to and respect community knowledge and values. By offering practical support and education about pet care, these visits empower families to maintain healthier, happier animals while respecting the role pets play in community life.

The program also tackles broader challenges, such as managing dog populations and controlling diseases that can spread between animals and people, creating healthier and safer environments for everyone. By focusing on the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote areas, including some of the most isolated regions of the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia, this program helps strengthen community wellbeing, bringing people and animals closer to a healthier, more sustainable future together.

Our head vet and business owner Dr Stephen Cutter (BVSc(Hons)), raised in Alice Springs, has been working in the Territory for many years, and The Ark Animal Hospital as his own practice, to provide the best quality treatment for pets, and to support his work in remote and indigenous communities.