Your Donation At Work 

The Reservation Animal Rescue® (RAR) program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) wants to provide pet food to our Program Partners for every animal they save. Native families are doing everything they can to give these poor animals resources, but your help is needed today.

Program Partner Patricia in Lame Deer, Montana works for Environmental Health and receives deliveries of animal food and care supplies to distribute to the community. She shared, “It’s a relief that people can get stuff even if they work. Where we’re located, it’s really hard to get supplies.” 

Patricia noted that many local cats are sick with worms, and a lot of dogs struggle with canine brucellosis, which can be passed to humans. She told us, “We don’t have money to test every animal, and there is no cure.” The nearest veterinarian is nearly 60 miles away in Forsyth, so Environmental Health coordinates with outside groups to pick up and treat strays. “On our own, we help 100 dogs a year.”

Another major issue for the community is dog attacks. Patricia said, “Bites are an everyday thing. There’s no animal control, but people call us about aggressive dogs. We just want kids to ride their bikes and walk along safely.” Patricia shared that Indian Health Services has around 70 locally reported cases of bites a year. Hungry dogs are desperate, so sending our Program Partners pet food makes their communities safer. “Once people know we have food, it goes fast,” Patricia told us.

To RAR donors, Patricia shared, “A lot of times you see animals really suffering. It’s really important that donors know that they are doing a great job in supporting services to our community. They’re helping these dogs survive around here, and we’re very thankful. If we don’t have that, I don’t know where to go. There are no nonprofits to help locally.” 

For seven years, the community’s main dog foster has been 55-year-old Janice of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Lame Deer doesn’t have an animal shelter, but it’s Janice’s dream to open one. Patricia shared that Janice is a big help when it comes to finding and caring for animals in need.

Janice grew up in Lame Deer, riding horses and growing her love for animals. “I’d stay gone all day in the hills. It was simple and fun.” Her compassionate nature even led her to be a registered nurse. Her job takes her to different communities where she always keeps an eye out for those in need. Janice shared, “I want to help as much as I can – people and their animals. A lot of people can’t afford dog food, and a lot of animals are hungry and sick. Mange is a top issue around here.” 

Janice has six dogs at home that she’s adopted, including Guppers, whom she met when he was a wandering pup in need of a home. She shared with us, “He was a stray at a gas station. I saw him there for a few weeks – he was starving and mangy but cute and friendly, so I picked him up and took him home. He loves being home.” Janice fed Guppers and began treating his mange – an ongoing process. “He was completely hairless on his legs and in spots all over, but he’s getting better.” Now one year old, Guppers is a happy, playful dog who loves attention and follows Janice everywhere. 

Janice is grateful to receive RAR materials from Patricia, including collars, puppy pads, and dog food. She told us, “Blankets are always really useful, and food is especially helpful when a storm is coming. I’m just grateful because it’s expensive here. The price of everything went up after the pandemic. One collar costs $14 at the local hardware store. A small bag of food is $36. I work full time and still don’t buy those.”

Janice will continue to support animals in need, saying “It just breaks my heart to see these homeless dogs. They’re hungry and thirsty, and they just want to survive. They want to live.”

You can help animals on the reservation who need love and care by donating to RAR today.