Page 8 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - January 2020
P. 8
8
Improving the lives of animals
Organization reduces barrier to people getting their unless they are creating a public preventing both overpopulation
the number of strays pets altered. RARE provides a nuisance. and the needless euthanasia of
Living on a rural Indian
so many animals.
low-cost spay/neuter. This covers
on five reservations the surgery, pain medications reservation can present The following are services
and a rabies vaccine. challenges for many dogs and provided to any enrolled tribal
Rez Animal Resources & The organization was started cats. There is little to no animal members from the five tribes we
Education started in 2006 to by Amy Loudermilk and Joyce control, most animals are not serve. We will also serve any pet
assist dogs and cats on five Bell. spayed and there are numerous owner that lives on one of these
Indian reservations in the After seeing the countless stray animals left to fend for reservations.
region. Tribes served include number of sick and themselves.
Chehalis, Nisqually, Skokomish, underweight dogs, they decided Historically, animal Spay/neuter vouchers
Squaxin Island and Shoalwater that something needed to be control on the reservations The purpose of this program
Bay. done to help these animals. was addressed only when the is to reduce the number of stray
The organization became an Shelters near these tribal number of strays got out of hand dogs and cats by providing a
official IRS recognized 501©3 communities do not provide any and dog packs became prevalent. low-cost way for tribal members
nonprofit in 2008. services on the reservations and The lives of reservation to have their pets spayed/
The goal of the program is the tribes are responsible for dogs and cats can improve neutered.
to reduce the number of stray their own animal control. significantly with focused Vouchers are provided to tribal
and abandoned animals by None of the five Indian attention on spay/neuter in members to help cover the cost of
preventing unwanted litters reservations where RARE these communities. Spaying the spay/neuter surgery. The pet
on five Indian reservations in operates have an animal shelter. and neutering pets is the most owners are referred to local state
southwest Washington. Animal control is handled by effective method to curbing pet licensed veterinary clinics for the
Research shows that busy law enforcement officers overpopulation.
expenses/bills are the primary that do little to assist animals This is a critical step to See REZ ANIMAL, page 9
