To help support Native families and their animals, The Reservation Animal Rescue® (RAR) program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) delivers animal care supplies to Tribal partners and helps subsidize spay/neuter clinics. On the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota, high school junior Hunter took his cattle dog Rocky to a recent clinic run by Program Partner Cheryl A. with Lake Traverse Animal Rezcue. Hunter said, “The LTAR clinic helped prevent hundreds of unwanted litters of kittens and puppies in our area.”

A Farm Dog and His Boy

To help support Native families and their animals, Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) and its Reservation Animal Rescue® (RAR) program deliver animal care supplies to Tribal partners and helps subsidize spay/neuter clinics. Recently on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota, our Program Partner Cheryl A. with the Lake Traverse Animal Rezcue (LTAR) offered a no-cost spay/neuter clinic to her community.

One local beneficiary was Hunter, a hard-working high school junior who works on his family farm. He told us, “I enjoy the farm life and working with animals!” Right by Hunter’s side is his 11-month-old dog Rocky, who spends his days herding other animals and living life to the fullest. “He loves to help chase cattle and sheep,” Hunter smiled. “He is a very fun, active dog.” Hunter has cared for this blue heeler/Australian shepherd and border collie mix since Rocky was 2 months old. They train together every day.

Normally, Hunter drives 25 miles from home to get Rocky’s veterinary care, but spay and neuter clinics are few and far between, and there’s the cost of the procedure to consider. Hunter explained, “Without the LTAR clinic, it would’ve taken me longer to save the money since I don’t have a job away from our farm. I help friends work cattle for a little bit of extra income.”

Rocky was the only pup born from an unplanned birth, which can put a strain on pets as well as caretakers. With two female dogs at home, Hunter “decided to neuter Rocky so we didn’t end up with an accidental litter or have him run away to find a female dog.”

According to LTAR, dogs who are not spayed/neutered are likely to travel miles in search of a partner. “This puts the dogs at risk of getting hit by cars or attacked by wild animals,” Cheryl noted.

Hunter agreed that “animal clinics help everyone. I am a high school kid and was still able to get help for my dog. The LTAR clinic helped prevent hundreds of unwanted litters of kittens and puppies in our area. I am very thankful for this event and the kindness of the staff. It felt really good to pick up Rocky after his procedure. He was so excited when he saw me!”

Program Partners are in urgent need of donations to help families support their pets on the reservations. Please donate to RAR today to continue supporting Program Partners like Cheryl who work hard to help animals in need.