Our Purpose
Why Common Ground Canine exists
Common Ground Canine was built on a simple belief: that caring well for dogs and caring well for people do not have to be separate things.
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We believe dog care should be calm, thoughtful and grounded in understanding each dog as an individual. We also believe businesses can create safe, meaningful opportunities for people when they are built with intention, care and integrity.
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Our purpose sits quietly behind everything we do. It informs how we care for dogs, how we support our team and how we show up in our community.
Dogs come first. Always.
Dogs are at the centre of everything we do.
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Their safety, wellbeing and comfort are never compromised. Our staffing, routines, environment and decisions are all designed around what dogs need to feel settled, supported and safe.
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The work we do only works if dogs are thriving. Calm, consistent care is not a by-product of our purpose. It is the foundation of it.
Our purpose for dogs
Our purpose for dogs is to create an environment where they feel secure, understood and respected.​
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We know that dogs are individuals. Some thrive in social settings, others need more quiet time, and many need something in between.
Our role is to notice, respond and support dogs in a way that feels right for them.
This means:
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Calm, predictable routines
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Thoughtfully managed social interactions
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Space to rest as well as play
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Gentle handling and clear boundaries
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When dogs feel safe and settled, everything else flows from there.
Our purpose for people
The work we do with dogs also creates opportunities for people.
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Common Ground Canine is a nonprofit social enterprise. This allows us to provide volunteering, training, mentoring and employment pathways in animal care, grooming and dog handling.​
All team members at Common Ground Canine are required to hold relevant police checks, and relevant staff are required to hold current Blue Cards too.
We take safety, professionalism and appropriate boundaries seriously in everything we do.
We are particularly focused on supporting people who may face barriers to stable employment, including those experiencing homelessness, domestic or family violence, financial hardship or social isolation.
This work is done with dignity, integrity and respect.
We do not believe in saviour narratives or tokenism.
We believe in skill-building, mentorship and creating workplaces where people can grow at their own pace.
Supporting people, by supporting their dogs
For many people experiencing homelessness or crisis, their dog is a constant source of safety, comfort and connection.
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Part of our purpose is to help keep people and their dogs together during difficult times. Where capacity allows, we aim to provide subsidised or free dog care to support people accessing housing, health services, appointments or crisis support.
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This may include short-term daycare, grooming or safe care arrangements that help reduce stress for both people and their dogs when support is needed most.
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This work is delivered quietly, respectfully and in partnership with frontline agencies and support services.
What this looks like in practice
Purpose, for us, is not theoretical.
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It shows up in the way we use our services to remove barriers - whether that’s supporting someone to attend an appointment, maintain housing, or keep their dog healthy and cared for during a difficult period.
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Dogs receive attentive, thoughtful care. People gain stability, skills and support. Both matter.
It also shows up in the way we:
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Train and mentor junior staff
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Support people to build confidence and skills over time
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Create calm, structured workplaces with clear expectations
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Balance learning with safety and supervision
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Build stability through meaningful, practical work
Choosing Common Ground Canine
When you choose Common Ground Canine, you are choosing calm, professional dog care.
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You are also supporting a business that is trying to do things a little more carefully and a little more kindly, without asking anything extra of you or your dog.
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Your dog’s experience with us remains joyful, consistent and focused entirely on their wellbeing. Everything else happens quietly in the background.
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