St Arnaud Primary School student Maria Taylor has found the perfect match in pet dog Harry, thanks to the Ararat Rural City Council community-safety team’s pet rehoming program.

Maria, 12, said it was ‘love at first sight’ when she saw Harry’s profile on the council’s pet rescue website, with his ‘handsome face’ drawing her in.

After a day filled with anticipation, Maria said she waited for the school bell to ring so she could collect Harry, who had just been desexed.

Harry had already impressed Maria’s father, Steve, who knew the dog would be a perfect addition to the family.

Despite strong interest from multiple applicants, council officers said it was clear Maria and her family were an ideal match.

The family already has a Jack Russell, a border collie and two cats, with Harry likely to join the other two dogs in becoming a regular at Mr Taylor’s auto-electrical business. “The pets aren’t animals to us, they are part of our family,” Maria’s mother Georgia said.

Maria’s passion for animals extends beyond home. 

She has volunteered at the St Arnaud Veterinary Clinic for the past 12 months and dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

Council chief executive Tim Harrison said the community-safety team was responsible for rehoming pets that were unclaimed or surrendered.

“Stories like Maria and Harry’s highlight the positive impact of this work, reinforcing council staff’s commitment to finding loving homes for animals in need,” he said.

People interested in adopting a cat or dog currently in care at the ARCC pound can visit www.ararat.vic.gov.au and search for ‘adopting an animal’ to read their profiles before filling out an adoption application form.

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