In 2018 I started The Dog House Farm Stay following advice from Indigo Shire that I needed no permits. I opened an ABN, lodged my tax returns and paid for my business insurance.

Since then, through Covid and bushfire smoke, we looked after dogs from both locals and tourists to the area.

We aren't a dog boarding kennel, even though the law defines us as one, our guests sleep in our home, enjoy our garden, we go on trips to the local cafe and they generally spend time doing most likely what they would be doing in their own home. We only have four dogs staying overnight or six during the day. We say we are a home from home boutique dog-minding solution.

In November 2021, we received a call from the local shire and we were told that unless we stopped operating we could be fined $64,000 and needed to apply for a planning permit and a Pet Boarding Establishment licence, which we have.

Since then we have heard hardly anything from the shire, except when I pleaded our CEO to intervene.

I am setting up this petition as an opportunity for the local community and tourists to Beechworth alike to express their support for The Dog House Farm Stay as well to demonstrate to the shire that there is a need for such unique offering in the local area.

What we offer is an alternative to boarding kennels, there is definitely a need for them too. We are just a stand-in for dogs that would not cope or thrive in such environment but that instead need a more individual approach especially those with behavioural issues such as reactiveness, or high anxiety, long walks in the forest or a relaxing snooze on the veranda.

We are here for dogs like CH and HC that are support/therapy dogs and a spell in a kennel might ruin their years of training and the support they can give to their young autistic charges.

We are here for Mollie and Maggie that have severe littermate syndrome and are reactive to each other when other dogs are around but can't be separated either. Because of these two gorgeous border collies, we created a Sole Occupancy option and their owner was able for the first time in a long while to go on holiday.

We are here for Murphy who had such a separation anxiety, I spent the night with him on the sofa.

We are here for all the lockdown puppies and created the 'Thursday Breakfast Club'. Six so socially awkward but loving puppies, that missed out on that so important socialising phase but made up for lost time in a safe environment.

But we are here also for all the pampered pooches that are inside dogs and are allowed on sofas, or maybe not.

We are just another option but in some cases, we are the only option.

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The Dog House Farm Stay is run by Teresa Tomat (me) as a mainly one person show. I am the one that feeds your pooch, gives them belly rubs, throws endless balls and pick up their poop. I aim not to leave your dog alone, but in the rare occasion they can't come with me, my very patient and loving husband steps in - and dogs just adore him.

With this petition, I hope to gather and be able to demonstrate support, via signatures, that there is a need for The Dog House Farm Stay and bring such evidence at the Council meeting at the end of July 2022 (provisional date).