Summary of the “Sicangu Oyate Pet Care Celebration,” Spay/ Neuter program on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in SD

History:

Similar to many reservations, the stray dog and cat problem on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation exceeded levels seen in off-reservation communities elsewhere in the US. The Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation includes the fourth to the poorest county in the US.

Litters born each spring became packs by fall. Victimized by mange, starvation and freezing, some dogs cannibalized other dogs in order to survive. Dog bites and livestock losses were enormous.

In 2002, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Health Administration created a partnership to aggressively develop comprehensive, humane solutions to pet overpopulation issues.

A resolution of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council declared July 18th through 22nd, 2003 the ‘Sicangu Oyate Pet Care Celebration,’ the first pet care event on the reservation. The resolution noted the traditional significance that animals, specifically companion animals, had to Lakota people, and the need to restore respect for the shunka (dog) and igmu (cat) to everyday life.

Short and long term goals were developed.

Short term plans included planning the 2003 five-day spay/ neuter event with a capacity of 900 animals. Distribution of information about the clinic and the reasons for spaying and neutering started. Arrangements were made to receive unwanted animals, with adoptable ones to be transferred to out of state adoption facilities wherever possible.

Long range plans included creating an animal control and protection program, establishing a permanent clinic (primarily for spay/ neuter), creating an education program and establishing ongoing pet transfer relationships with out of state shelters so that adoptable pets could find homes.

Within the year, the short-term goals were realized with a very successful clinic, a second clinic had taken place and all of the long-term goals became underway.

Preparing for the first clinic: Once the date was set, the Tribal Health Administration began major community outreach efforts. Children created posters that called for compassion toward animals. Radio ads in Lakota and English advertised the event.

The tribal health administration organized transports to pick up pets belonging to families in remote parts of the reservation, bring them to the clinic, and return them after surgery. The logistics were enormous.

During the early stages of planning the 2003 clinic, it was recognized that creating solutions without an animal shelter in place, made it necessary to accept unwanted animals, adoptable and unadoptable.

Denver Dumb Friends League, Boulder Humane Society and Best Friends of Utah agreed to accept unwanted animals, reaching out to accept as many as they could. Advertisements noted that unwanted dogs would be collected; arrangements were made to receive large numbers of animals.

In July 2003, veterinarians, veterinary technicians and others traveled to South Dakota as part of the “team of change.” Out of state volunteers from Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana and Oklahoma joined the event. During the five-day clinic, 649 pets were sterilized; vaccinated, dewormed and treated for mange.
Nearly 100 local volunteers from tribal communities joined tribal health care workers. Workers from the Indian Health Service Hospital, along with Naval Reservists, vaccinated pets and helped check-in clients.

NLS Animal Health of Oklahoma City arranged for large donations of vaccinations and pet care supplies from Bayer and Fort Dodge. The Spay Oklahoma truck logged over 6,500 miles during the combined pet pick-ups and the pet transfers afterward. Homeward Bound Humane Society of Durant, OK, sent over one thousand packages of dog and cat treats along with recovery supplies.

The event received live coverage on South Dakota Public Radio, an article in the Rapid City Journal and articles in numerous newspapers, Indian and non-Indian, in central South Dakota.

In April, 2004 a second clinic took place. 459 animals were spayed or neutered. Responsible pet care information was distributed and posted throughout the reservation. In March, 2004 the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) provided funds for renovation of the new clinic building, making high volume spay/neuter clinics easier and far more cost effective. PETsMART Charities provided funding for surgical equipment including the anesthesia machine and medical sterilizer.

During 2005, three separate clinics of four days each, served by two high volume veterinarians, provided spay/ neuter surgeries for 1,313 animals. The animals also received deworming, vaccinations and dogs received mange treatment.

The Pet Transfers:

Arrangements were made to receive large numbers of unwanted animals after the clinic. While as many pets as possible would be included in the transfers, we assumed that euthanasia would be necessary, and we prepared for that also.

However, generous outreach of the shelters enabled all healthy animals to be transferred to Salt Lake City, Boulder and Denver. Even some dogs with health problems could be treated and placed for adoption. NOT ONE animal was euthanized because of the excessive numbers.

Following the clinic, arrangements were made for ongoing pet transfers to the Colorado shelters.

The Future of this Program:

Teamwork has created fundamental change for animals and their caregivers on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.

These programs are firsts for any South Dakota community, on or off reservation. Through the development of a high volume spay/ neuter program, an educational program, the implementation of an animal control code and pet transfers, the strides represent fundamental change for animals and communities on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.

Dog bites and roaming packs (animals that had suffered horribly) have been reduced dramatically. By concentrating on prevention and education, this cost effective and humane approach is a model for communities everywhere.

The 2003-2004 events were sponsored by Summerlee Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare, ASPCA, Friends of Animals, and others.