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One of the unfortunate casualties of the stalled national economy is the fact that cats and dogs are often relinquished to animal rescue organizations. Given that South Dakota leads the nation in the percentage of Native Americans living below the poverty line (48 percent), our Program Partners have their work cut out for them.
Andrea, with the Oglala Pet Project (OPP), recognizes that some families have to make hard choices in this economy. She is ready to give the animals all the care that they may have otherwise lacked.
During a recent trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, our team met up with Andrea. She had just returned from two communities on the southeastern edge of the reservation, about 30 miles from her home. Of course, 30 miles doesn’t necessarily mean 30 minutes of driving. This day was certainly one of those instances where travel time was extended by the weather.
With temperatures hovering between 15 and 20 degrees and snow flurries complicating things, the rescue took longer than expected. The two dogs Andrea brought back were owner-relinquished. The owners had heard about OPP on a recent news report.
Sugar, a miniature pinscher/miniature dachshund mix, was an older dog. She was initially a little nervous, but very sweet. Riding in a stranger’s pickup in the snow probably wasn’t fun. Witnessing her crate mate getting shots undoubtedly didn’t help either. As Sugar watched Andrea gently lure the unnamed malamute mix out of the crate next to her, she seemed to calm down.
With Andrea’s calming voice and reassuring hand, the 10 month old female sat on the tailgate and patiently waited as her series of shots and meds were administered. In between shots, the pup nestled with Andrea and looked at her with appreciation.
Sugar was next, but not before we decided that we would like to name the malamute mix. Being familiar with some of the names that have been previously given, such as Mato (Bear in Lakota), Snoopy, Ariel, Peppermint Patty, and Cante (Heart in Lakota), this distinctively masked lady needed something a little sassy: LOLA! Andrea liked it and Lola sealed the deal by responding with an enthusiastic tail wag and a cold kiss.
The next step was for OPP to begin scouting foster homes for the two rescues. Once they were spayed, both Sugar and Lola would be placed for adoption. OPP had posted a photo of both girls on their Facebook site before sunset. Soon, the post had collected over 120 “likes” and more than 30 comments from people, many asking about adoption.
The Rescue Operation for Animals of the Reservation (ROAR) Program provides support to many Program Partners through monthly deliveries of dog food and supplies. Cat food, kitty litter and flea and tick medication are a big help for a tight budget and these are often part of the shipments as well. Operating these facilities takes a lot of hard work and supplies. Hand sanitizer, air freshener, pet shampoo, blankets, paper towels, dog bowls, disinfectant, trash cans, and liners are all part of running a clean and efficient rescue for animals to temporarily call home.
We are fortunate to support a partner like Andrea with OPP, who is so dedicated in helping the four-leggeds on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. We are also thankful for the many donors who have the heart to help the cats and dogs that might otherwise be homeless, cold, and hungry.
Thank you!
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