Please be aware that our Vet Program does not provide an on-call emergency service.
Our Animal Management team is happy to answer questions via phone if available, or you can leave a message on 0459 467 217
If your animal is seriously sick or injured and needs urgent attention, you may need to seek veterinary treatment in Katherine or Darwin.
The Animal Management Program aims to prevent situations where the socioeconomic circumstances of animal owners result in poorer human and animal health outcomes and the forced mass culling of unwanted or sick animals.
Our Animal Management Program works in partnership with AMRRIC (Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities), the Department of Animal Welfare, the Department of Environmental Health NT, Local Government Association of the NT and local police to optimise the service provided.
What's included
- Large scale free desexing program to Territory Housing owners
- Large scale free parasite control program – intestinal worms, ticks and mange control
- Humane euthanasia of sick or unwanted dogs
- Humane removal of dangerous dogs from communities as required
- Parvovirus vaccination incentives for dogs under six (6) months old who are surgically desexed
- Other veterinary services on a fee for service basis
- Training to casually employed Indigenous Animal Management Workers (AMWs)
- Adult, household, and school- based education programs at each veterinary visit
- Expert product advice to shops with follow up education to households once effective products are in store
- A photographic database of every animal in each community that includes ownership and health information
- Accurate program records and evaluation over time. This data is presented to the Local Authority Meetings at least three (3) times per annum
- Partnership with Sunrise Health to collect and collate dog bite data from the clinic to monitor the prevalence of dangerous dogs in the community
Education
To address the concern for baby animals being removed from the wild, Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Animal Management Program has created an animation called ‘Baby Animals Belong in the Bush’ which is available in both English and Kriol.
Baby Animals Belong in the Bush is a fun, kid friendly video that has been created to reinforce the important message about leaving baby animals with their mother to stop serious health risks and problems for both animals and people.
The animation was funded by the Northern Territory Animal Welfare Grant Program and will be shown to local schools as part of the Animal Management Program.
The Team
Dr. Samantha Phelan
Veterinarian / Animal Management Program Manager
Dr. Sam is our in-house veterinarian based in Katherine and is the first point of contact for the Animal Management Program.
Sam has been working in animal management across the remote regions of the Territory for the last 30 years. Sam founded the Roper Gulf ‘in-house’ veterinary based model of animal control in 2016, managing the program for 5 years before handing over the reins. She has now stepped back into the role and is enjoying being back ‘on the tools’. Sam brings a wealth of remote veterinary experience with her. Apart from her field experience, Sam has been on the Board and Acting CEO of AMRRIC, and has written numerous National training manuals for both remote vets and Environmental Health Practitioners.
Sam is passionate about the links between the health of animals, humans and the environment. She aims to improve animal health, welfare, and control in our communities by building community and workforce capacity, and providing accessible desexing and anti-parasite programs.
Alia Schmidt
Vet Nurse
Alia grew up in Katherine, completing her Certificate III in Animal Studies via a school-based apprenticeship in 2024. Both Alia’s parents are Territory vets and she has grown up around animals and vet clinics. She worked full time as a clinical vet nurse in Katherine before working on station for a year. Alia is currently completing her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing with Roper Gulf Regional Council.
You will see Alia in community training our community workforce, vaccinating pets, visiting house to house treating animals, and assisting the vets with surgery. Alia is passionate about animal behaviour, wanting to make our free roaming dog population heathy and safe.
Vet Resources
View the frequently asked questions that our Vet Team hears from pet owners across the region
Our Communities
Roper Gulf Regional Council delivers a wide range of services within one of the most spectacular and remote areas of the Northern Territory. Image: Tourism NT/Sean Scott
2026 Schedule
| 13 - 17 April | Vet Nurse Visit | Ngukurr / Uragunga |
| 20 - 24 April | Vet Nurse Visit | Numbulwar |
| 27 April - 1 May | Vet Surgery Visit | Ngukurr / Urapunga |
| 5 - 8 May | Vet Nurse visit and Vet Surgery Visit | Minyerri |
| 11 - 15 May | Vet Surgery Visit | Jilkminggan |
| 18 - 22 May | Vet Surgery Visit | Wugularr |
| 18 - 25 May | AMRRIC Visit | Borroloola and Robinson River |
| 25 - 29 May | Vet Surgery Visit | Bulman / Weemol |
| 1 - 3 June | Vet Nurse Visit | Manyallaluk |
| 8 - 12 June | Vet Surgery Visit | Barunga |
| 22 - 25 June | Vet Surgery Visit | Numbulwar |
| 29 June - 3 July | Vet Surgery Visit | Bulman |
| 20 - 23 July | Vet Surgery Visit | Minyerri |
| 27 - 31 July | Vet Surgery Visit | Ngukurr |
We are firmly committed to improving animal health, welfare and control within our region, and to developing a culture of responsible animal ownership