Christmas Island's last dog embraced by the remote community

ABC NEWS (Australia)

For years dogs have been prohibited on Christmas Island, more than a thousand kilometres off Western Australia's coast. Yet, a special case has meant one last dog remains on the island, much to the delight of locals.

Transcript

00:00Five-year-old Shiloh is the only dog on Christmas Island.

00:06She was brought over as an assistance dog.

00:09But when her owner moved back to the mainland, she stayed.

00:13Support worker Tanya became her carer.

00:16Now she's shared by the community.

00:19The fact is that she's really wanted here.

00:21Perhaps benefiting most, the local school kids.

00:25When the buses go past, the kids are waving through the window,

00:29Shiloh, it's become a bit of a routine now.

00:32After school drop-off, she visits the senior centre

00:35and gets spoiled by Uncle Tan.

00:38Uncle, he is the famous dog man on Christmas Island

00:42because you used to have seven dogs.

00:45Other residents can ask to take Shiloh out on the community roster.

00:49Islanders Nisha and Dan making the most of the rare opportunity.

00:53I guess the unconditional love, even that we don't know her,

00:56yet she'll sit here with us, she cuddles up to you,

00:59she gives you those big eyes.

01:02A feral dog eradication program here on Christmas Island

01:05means that Shiloh may be the last dog to live here.

01:08But for locals, having access to her is more than just about company.

01:12The emotional support that you get from an animal,

01:15more than a chicken or a lizard, is quite profound.

01:20And I think that's evident in the response that we get from Shiloh.

01:24An animal loved large by a small community.

01:27?

01:33?

01:39?

01:46?

01:48?

01:50?

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