00:00It's all hands on deck for these volunteers, ahead of a stressful event for around 50 rescue
00:08dogs.
00:09We've actually got sheets up on all the pens so that we can shelter them from the flashing
00:13lights and then we sedate them for the couple of days coming up to cracker night just to
00:18get them used to being on medication and that will reduce a little bit of their reactivity
00:23through the night.
00:25The 1st of July Territory Day fireworks are a beloved tradition for many locals, but for
00:30Darwin's four-legged residents, the explosions can trigger a fight or flight response.
00:35For those without a home, it's especially distressing.
00:38You'd love to take them all home and look after them, but the staff do the very best
00:44they can to keep them calm and comfortable, but yeah there'll be a lot of stressed dogs
00:48Monday night for sure.
00:50Before being sedated, volunteers take the dogs for one last walk and play before drawing
00:55the curtains on their temporary homes.
00:58The cats also get some TLC.
01:01Dogs ears are much more sensitive to sound, so what can be a loud bang for us, for Buster
01:06here, can be deafening.
01:07Buster's been here pretty much all his life and he's a great dog, he gets on wonderfully
01:13with other dogs, we match him up with other dogs to play, they get adopted and poor old
01:17Buster's still here, but he's great, he really needs a home.
01:21The shelter's permanent staff are extremely grateful for their volunteers' dedication.
01:26They take them out walking and they sit there and play with them and help encourage dogs
01:31to be happier that have been here for such a long time, so yeah, absolutely love them.
01:37It's a rough night ahead for these homeless poochers, and the shelter's urging pet owners
01:41to take their own dogs out for an early walk before closing the curtains with some distracting
01:46music to ease anxiety.
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