🎉 Victory – Petition Closed! 🎉
After 12 months of advocacy, our heartbreak has become lasting change. With the Evie’s Bark Petition now complete, we are proud to have helped drive reforms under the Northern Territory’s new Animal Protection and Related Legislation Amendment Act 2025. These reforms include a Code of Practice: Pet Industry Association Australia Standards and Guidelines for Best Practice Boarding Facilities/Establishments and Doggy Daycare Centres.
With Waffie by our side, we celebrate this victory for our Princess Evie, Marko, Badja, Bella, and every companion lost in the Northern Territory’s pet boarding industry - and for all who cannot speak for themselves.
To everyone who signed, shared, and stood by us - thank you. 💜 This would not have been possible without your support.
🌟 Special Thanks 🌟
💜 Special appreciation and thanks to all the pet guardians who bravely came forward and trusted us with your stories - your voices are at the heart of this change.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to:
🐾Mr Andrew Mackay MLA, Member for Goyder - We sincerely thank Mr Andrew Mackay MLA, Member for Goyder, for his knowledge, support in tabling our Evie’s Bark Petition and the wonderful speeches he delivered Parliament in honour of Evie. We are also deeply grateful to Megan, Andrew’s Electorate Officer, for her fantastic assistance. We look forward to continuing our discussions with both of them in 2026.
🐾Hon Lia Finocchiaro, Chief Minister of the NT - for showing compassion and understanding.
🐾Hon Gerard Maley, Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, and his team - for their dedication in making this change possible.
🐾Department of Primary Industries - Lorraine, Anthony and all who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure these laws were changed and a Code of Practice implemented in honour of Princess Evie.
🐾 Mr Charles Drury, Director of Animal Welfare - for his advice and ongoing support.
🐾 All Members of the Legislative Assembly NT - for unanimously supporting our petition, speaking up during debate, and voting for stronger protections. Your compassion has made a real difference, and we hope this spirit of positive change continues.
🐾Katie Woolfe (Mix 104), ABC Radio Darwin, NT News, NT Independent and other media outlets - for helping give Evie’s Bark her voice.
🐾We are also deeply grateful to the pet boarding businesses and commercial pet sitters who spoke with us openly and honestly, answering our many questions. Our thanks also go to veterinary clinics, the many pet rescue organisations, HATS NT, local businesses across the NT, and advocacy organisations who helped promote Evie’s Bark.
🐾Thank you to Aussie Pooch Nutrition and Wellbeing and Pawsitive K9 Behaviour for being there from the start - listening, supporting and standing with us during such a distressing time, and giving us the strength to keep going.
🐾💜Lastly, we thank our family and friends for their support, and our son Aiden for his incredible hard work in creating our Evie’s Bark brand, designing the logo and images, being our sounding board and carrying Evie’s legacy forward.
Our Milestones Along the Way:
🐾13 September 2024: Evie’s Bark launched 💜
🐾20 September 2024: Submission made to the Have Your Say campaign for animal welfare reform.
🐾13 December 2024: Petition through Change.org calling for urgent regulation of the Pet Boarding Industry (including commercial pet sitters)
🐾January 2025: Princess Evie named a finalist for Australian Dog of the Year for her advocacy and awareness through Evie’s Bark.
🐾22 May 2025: Petition 12 Immediate Action to Protect Companion Animals tabled in the Legislative Assembly by Mr Andrew Mackay MLA
🐾27 July 2025: Petition debated; all parties unanimously agreed to protect our companions.
🐾30 July 2025: Animal Protection and Related Legislation Amendment Bill introduced by Minister Gerard Maley, which included our recommended PIAA Code of Practice.
🐾8 August 2025: Attended Legislative Scrutiny Committee Public Hearing
🐾11 August 2025: Formal submission lodged to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee to strengthen the Bill.
🐾2 September 2025: Bill PASSED into law! 🎉
🐾12 September 2025: His Honour the Administrator of the NT declared assent to the Animal Protection and Related Legislation Amendment Act 2025.
With over 2,000 voices united, and the revelation that Evie’s story is sadly not the only one, the NT Government listened. Countless innocent lives will now be safer.
✨ What’s Next for Evie’s Bark ✨
For the remainder of 2025, we celebrate this incredible milestone - stronger protections for our pets, with a new Code of Practice and set of standards now in place for the pet boarding industry in the Northern Territory! Yet there is still much to do, and we will continue working behind the scenes, raising awareness and researching for our next steps to make our pets even safer.
In 2026, our focus in the NT will be:
🐾Advocating for stronger Animal Management by-laws in every Local Government area.
🐾Holding decision-makers accountable for important licencing reforms across all pet boarding facilities and commercial pet sitters.
🐾Demanding fair standards - if pet guardians must obtain a kennel licence for 3+ pets, and wildlife carers requiring a licence, then pet boarding businesses must also meet proper licensing and oversight.
From Campaign to Organisation
💜 Evie’s Bark is more than a petition
What began as a campaign born of heartbreak, Evie’s Bark has grown into a movement with purpose and vision. We are no longer advocating for just change in the Northern Territory, but becoming a much-needed spokesperson and resource for pet guardians while also continuing to raise awareness and push for nationwide reform.
In 2026, we will be launching our Evie’s Bark website - a dedicated space that will provide pet guardians with essential information about all things pet boarding - including legislation in each state and territory (regulatory requirements), Codes of Practice and licencing procedures and our current campaigns. It would also include important resources on safe boarding practices, emergency protocols and tips for choosing reputable facilities and commercial pet sitters. By creating a central hub of knowledge, we can empower pet guardians to make informed decisions, prevent harm to their pets and reduce the risk of incidents like what happened to Evie and the many others. We only wish something like this had been available to us after Evie’s death.
Evie’s Bark will also become a supportive network for grieving pet guardians, providing a safe and compassionate space where individuals can share their experiences, find comfort and receive guidance during the incredibly difficult time following the loss of a beloved companion. Through peer support, educational resources and empathetic outreach - we aim to help pet guardians navigate their grief, feel understood and know they are not alone in their journey.
As always, we will continue to research and fight for our companion pets to be recognised as sentient beings, not merely property or possessions. This law must change. Our Princess Evie’s life and worth are far greater than the label of ‘damage to our property'.
Evie’s Bark was born from loss, but her legacy continues to grow. Her story has become a movement - reminding us of the importance of knowing who cares for our companions and shining a light on the risks of an unregulated industry.
We look forward with excitement to seeing Evie’s Bark continue to grow and evolve.
👉 If you haven’t already please stay up-to-date and continue to follow our journey on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Don’t forget to share with your family and friends.
🐾 With One small pawprint at a time 🐾
Evie’s Bark Team