Adoption Hub

After multiple shelters had turned Michelle and her partner away, they were struggling to remain optimistic in their search for a third member of their family. That is at least, until Kilara came along.

“Kilara was our last hope for a new best friend!” Michelle shares. When seeing her profile online and hearing that she had been returned by the previous people who adopted her after just 24 hours, Michelle knew she wanted to give Kilara a second chance.

Pursuing adoption was a no-brainer for Michelle, especially as she believes “there are so many beautiful dogs who need a second chance at life and deserve to be loved the way they love us” and Kilara is the perfect example. The stigma around dogs in shelters being aggressive or having behavioural issues is damaging their ability to be adopted, which Michelle understood, sharing that

Kilara “has the absolute best temperament” and that “she has shown a lot of patience and kindness for our son too, who is now 14 months old”.

Originally named Paddy, Kilara was rescued from a small town in the Northern Territory outside Alice Springs by Camp Dogs Australia, a group who rescue dogs before they can join a wild pack. When Michelle heard about her backstory, she knew that she wanted to pay homage to her history and rename her after ‘Killara’, meaning ‘always there’ in the Aboriginal Dharug language.

Michelle mentions it’s important to remember that “they need to fit into your life too, so find a pet that matches your lifestyle.” As Michelle and her partner are both quite active they wanted a dog they could take on adventures. Now in a home that is welcoming and loving, Michelle and Kilara enjoy regular walks to the park and trips to the beach, allowing her to “live her best life” as Michelle describes it.