Across Native American reservations, the challenges are enormous. Over 19 million pets in the U.S. live in underserved communities where vet care, spay/neuter services, and even food are scarce. These aren’t just statistics—they’re dogs curled at our feet, puppies left in boxes, and trusting eyes that have known hardship.  

“Some of these dogs come in bleeding, starved, their skin falling off from mange,” explained Jennie. “But they still wag their tails. They still want love.” Jennie recalls Star, a feral, pregnant dog who wouldn’t let anyone near her. “Every day, I sat by the road. Eventually, she came. She was my soul dog.”  

The effort began with just Lance and Shandon. “At first, it was just me and Shandon,” Lance said. “We had no shelter. No network. Just need.” They built a foster-based network to meet demands the tribal shelter couldn’t. “At any given time, we have 50 to 60 dogs to foster,” Lance said. “And there are always more waiting.”  

Shandon now drives countless miles delivering food, NexGard, and clean water. “They know my truck now,” he laughed. “They come running when they see it. Because they know someone cares.”  

Tails of Love’s work is supported in part by RAR, a program of Partnership With Native Americans ® (PWNA). Through RAR’s $10,000 annual grant, the organization funds vet treatments, surgeries, and vaccines in areas with no shelters—and often no paved roads.   

That support helped save Sophia, a sweet seven-year-old found nursing puppies with an open chest wound. “She was dying but still trying to feed her babies,” said her forever guardian, Lyndell. “Tails of Love stepped in. Sophia is here today because of that.”  

Brooke, just three weeks old, was hit by a car and left with a broken hip. Jennie is now nursing her back to health. “She’s tiny but tough,” she said.  “They’re alive because someone cared.” 

“You get attached,” Katelyn added. “But then you see them go to families, healthy and happy, and you know it was worth it.” Katelyn and Nick have fostered since March. They’re caring for Darla, who was run over and left with a broken leg. She’s healing slowly, but the couple is committed to her recovery.  

On many reservations, 88% of pets are not spayed or neutered, and 69% have never seen a vet. “We’re teaching people about vaccines, spaying, and neutering,” said Shandon. “There’s cultural resistance, but we meet people where they are.” “The change is happening,” Lance added. “One conversation at a time.”  

Janelle F. began fostering after losing her boxer. “I wasn’t ready for another dog. But I couldn’t sit in that pain. These dogs healed a part of me.” Each foster gets a bed, toys, and all the love she can offer. “When they get adopted, I send them off with everything. That helps them feel safe.”  

All the volunteers echo the same message: Thank you to RAR and its donors. Because of that support, lives like Sophia’s, Darla’s, Spring’s, and Brooke’s have been saved. Donate today—because they’re counting on you.