Animal Welfare Professionals

I just read this blog post about loose dogs on reservations. I found it very interesting and would love to hear others' thoughts. It's a new perspective I hadn't thought about because I'm a white woman and I know nothing about Native or Reservation life. Does anyone have any other resources to learn more?

https://www.itstrainingcatsanddogs.com/blog/2019/2/10/the-rez-dogs-are-alright

#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

i didn't see anything in the suggested article promoting a spay/neuter program on reservations (https://yakimahumane.org/services/spay-neuter/)

Free roaming dogs is fine if tribal councils will tolerate them but the fact is that litters of puppies from the Yakima Nation are ending up here in Seattle thus putting pressure on our  shelters  (Bellingham to Olympia) and not just to get our local dogs adopted.

I see no tribal attempt to start a spay/neuter program on the reservation...this is not a cultural or racism issue, it is an issue of humanity (humanity defined as the elimination of human caused suffering).

All members of society should be able to come to a common sense solution to help eliminate the 3-5million cats & dogs euthanised in the country every year.

Thank you,

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA
------------------------------

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There ARE actually efforts taking place to provide pet resources there.  The difficulties are the same as everywhere else: not enough money and not enough veterinarians to do spay/neuter surgeries.

Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2024 10:18 PM
From: Lars Pardo
Subject: Reservation Dogs

i didn't see anything in the suggested article promoting a spay/neuter program on reservations (https://yakimahumane.org/services/spay-neuter/)

Free roaming dogs is fine if tribal councils will tolerate them but the fact is that litters of puppies from the Yakima Nation are ending up here in Seattle thus putting pressure on our  shelters  (Bellingham to Olympia) and not just to get our local dogs adopted.

I see no tribal attempt to start a spay/neuter program on the reservation...this is not a cultural or racism issue, it is an issue of humanity (humanity defined as the elimination of human caused suffering).

All members of society should be able to come to a common sense solution to help eliminate the 3-5million cats & dogs euthanised in the country every year.

Thank you,

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA
------------------------------

Agree. Not enough resources! Very sad and tragic.

------------------------------
Julielani Chang
The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc.
Davis CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2024 10:04 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Reservation Dogs

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There ARE actually efforts taking place to provide pet resources there.  The difficulties are the same as everywhere else: not enough money and not enough veterinarians to do spay/neuter surgeries.

Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2024 10:18 PM
From: Lars Pardo
Subject: Reservation Dogs

i didn't see anything in the suggested article promoting a spay/neuter program on reservations (https://yakimahumane.org/services/spay-neuter/)

Free roaming dogs is fine if tribal councils will tolerate them but the fact is that litters of puppies from the Yakima Nation are ending up here in Seattle thus putting pressure on our  shelters  (Bellingham to Olympia) and not just to get our local dogs adopted.

I see no tribal attempt to start a spay/neuter program on the reservation...this is not a cultural or racism issue, it is an issue of humanity (humanity defined as the elimination of human caused suffering).

All members of society should be able to come to a common sense solution to help eliminate the 3-5million cats & dogs euthanised in the country every year.

Thank you,

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA

With apologies, I am getting way off topic but this is a never-ending challenge. I shall be brief.

We have birth control for a variety of species pigeons & deer for example. Zoos & wildlife parks (eg Kruger) have birth control for lions & wild dogs. 

We all recognise that we need to get ahead of the cat/dog breeding curve. The only realistic solution is non-invasive methods- either sub-cutaneous injectibles or oral birth control - that can be administered by non-professionals. 

If it is not a financial issue  dominated by the 'powers that be' I simply cannot understand why we in the animal community are still waiting.

Thank you.

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2024 10:04 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Reservation Dogs

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There ARE actually efforts taking place to provide pet resources there.  The difficulties are the same as everywhere else: not enough money and not enough veterinarians to do spay/neuter surgeries.

Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2024 10:18 PM
From: Lars Pardo
Subject: Reservation Dogs

i didn't see anything in the suggested article promoting a spay/neuter program on reservations (https://yakimahumane.org/services/spay-neuter/)

Free roaming dogs is fine if tribal councils will tolerate them but the fact is that litters of puppies from the Yakima Nation are ending up here in Seattle thus putting pressure on our  shelters  (Bellingham to Olympia) and not just to get our local dogs adopted.

I see no tribal attempt to start a spay/neuter program on the reservation...this is not a cultural or racism issue, it is an issue of humanity (humanity defined as the elimination of human caused suffering).

All members of society should be able to come to a common sense solution to help eliminate the 3-5million cats & dogs euthanised in the country every year.

Thank you,

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA

Lars,

I totally agree. Does anyone know why non-surgical population control is not being used? I believe some countries in Europe do. It would be so amazing to get ahead of the breeding curve. I wish we would have a moratorium on breeding even a temporary one would solve the overpopulation dilemma. Great post! Tx.

------------------------------
Julielani Chang
The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc.
Davis CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2024 02:15 PM
From: Lars Pardo
Subject: Reservation Dogs

With apologies, I am getting way off topic but this is a never-ending challenge. I shall be brief.

We have birth control for a variety of species pigeons & deer for example. Zoos & wildlife parks (eg Kruger) have birth control for lions & wild dogs. 

We all recognise that we need to get ahead of the cat/dog breeding curve. The only realistic solution is non-invasive methods- either sub-cutaneous injectibles or oral birth control - that can be administered by non-professionals. 

If it is not a financial issue  dominated by the 'powers that be' I simply cannot understand why we in the animal community are still waiting.

Thank you.

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2024 10:04 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Reservation Dogs

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

There ARE actually efforts taking place to provide pet resources there.  The difficulties are the same as everywhere else: not enough money and not enough veterinarians to do spay/neuter surgeries.

Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2024 10:18 PM
From: Lars Pardo
Subject: Reservation Dogs

i didn't see anything in the suggested article promoting a spay/neuter program on reservations (https://yakimahumane.org/services/spay-neuter/)

Free roaming dogs is fine if tribal councils will tolerate them but the fact is that litters of puppies from the Yakima Nation are ending up here in Seattle thus putting pressure on our  shelters  (Bellingham to Olympia) and not just to get our local dogs adopted.

I see no tribal attempt to start a spay/neuter program on the reservation...this is not a cultural or racism issue, it is an issue of humanity (humanity defined as the elimination of human caused suffering).

All members of society should be able to come to a common sense solution to help eliminate the 3-5million cats & dogs euthanised in the country every year.

Thank you,

Lars Pardo

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA

Thanks for sharing!  Have you watched the movie from CARE?  "The Hummingbird Say So"  is a great documentary.  Maybe it will add to your thoughts.  I do wish that there was funding to support the Reservations animal care but not for it to be taken over by non-indigenous people.  And very good points made by Lars re: over population and need for spay/neuter support.

https://careawo.org/narratives/

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Ellen Gratch
Capital Area Humane Society
------------------------------

Thank you both. Lars, I absolutely agree about the need to spay/neuter. I know there are some reservations that get help, but it certainly should be talked about more.

Ellen, I haven't heard of that movie, I will check it out. Thank you for sharing!

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2024 07:09 AM
From: Ellen Gratch
Subject: Reservation Dogs

Thanks for sharing!  Have you watched the movie from CARE?  "The Hummingbird Say So"  is a great documentary.  Maybe it will add to your thoughts.  I do wish that there was funding to support the Reservations animal care but not for it to be taken over by non-indigenous people.  And very good points made by Lars re: over population and need for spay/neuter support.

https://careawo.org/narratives/

------------------------------
Ellen Gratch
Capital Area Humane Society
------------------------------

Thanks for the link, Ellen. Couldn't agree more about the human-animal spiritual bond which is why our focus remains in Assisi (hometown of StFrancis, Patron Saint of Animals & Environment). 

As outsiders, we can no more go to a shelter on tribal land & set up a spay/neuter program than we can go into Umbria & set up a sterilisation program. To attempt to do so is to invite criticism, accusations of cultural colonialism and ultimately failure. If programs are not organic in nature with local support, we tend to stay away.

We need more diversity in the animal community. A good start would be Animal Chaplains who have the unique opportunity to work among different cultural & religious groups. They are governed by our common spiritual, not political, bonds. They can inspire a ground swell of interest even in the most challenging environment.

Lars Pardo

btw Animal Chaplain programs w/financial aid are available - one only need ask

------------------------------
Lars Pardo
volunteer
Paw in Tau Foundation
WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2024 07:09 AM
From: Ellen Gratch
Subject: Reservation Dogs

Thanks for sharing!  Have you watched the movie from CARE?  "The Hummingbird Say So"  is a great documentary.  Maybe it will add to your thoughts.  I do wish that there was funding to support the Reservations animal care but not for it to be taken over by non-indigenous people.  And very good points made by Lars re: over population and need for spay/neuter support.

https://careawo.org/narratives/

------------------------------
Ellen Gratch
Capital Area Humane Society
------------------------------

Hi Ellen,

I watched the movie. It is aways good to see from all sides. I have been followed this non-profit ran by the indigeous people and supported them.  https://mailchi.mp/49ef80055e22/navajo-women-led-nonprofit-brings-relief-to-navajo-nation-homes?e=2e375d5eb1

------------------------------
Julielani Chang
The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc.
Davis CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2024 07:09 AM
From: Ellen Gratch
Subject: Reservation Dogs

Thanks for sharing!  Have you watched the movie from CARE?  "The Hummingbird Say So"  is a great documentary.  Maybe it will add to your thoughts.  I do wish that there was funding to support the Reservations animal care but not for it to be taken over by non-indigenous people.  And very good points made by Lars re: over population and need for spay/neuter support.

https://careawo.org/narratives/

------------------------------
Ellen Gratch
Capital Area Humane Society
------------------------------

Hi Johanna,

Thank you for sharing the blog.  80% of dogs in the world don't have a home. They have autonomy and freedom but they also suffer from starvation, and adverse weather . I think the biggest issue is population control.  Instead of spay and neuter, the population control in tribal lands is definitely different and hard to accept. Winter is a natural way to reduce rez dogs population. I visited a shelter in Montana years ago and the shelter folks told me that every winter they went to the reservation to bring in as many rez dogs as possible to the shelter providing a warm place for them to weather out the harsh winter and to alter them. In the spring, the dogs are released back to the reservation where they are allowed to roam living the life they accustomed but at least there would be less litters to deal with. It is TNR but for dogs. I am not sure the shelter worked something out with the reservation or they did this on their own. I volunteer for Red Rover Responders  and last year they partner with The Parker Project to help spay and neuter dogs and cats in the Navajo Nation. Here is the link to the Parker Project http://theparkerproject.org/where-we-are-going/  https://theparkerproject.org/home/

If you are interested in helping you can contact the Parker Project directly I am sure they welcome any help. You can join Red Rover Responders. I am one. The only requirement is the responder has to pass FEMA responser course. I was a first responder for Caldor Fire in 2021 to help care for displaced pets. It was hard work but very rewarding. We are not limited to natural disaster, we also help with hoarding/cruelty cases and underserved population such as rez dogs in the reservations. Let me know if you have any question. 

------------------------------
Julielani Chang
The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc.
Davis CA
------------------------------