Oglala Pet Project is a non-profit organization serving the Pine Ridge communities and the pets on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Founded in 2011 by community based volunteers at Pine Ridge who had been helping rez pets for many years, the Oglala Pet Project (OPP) helps community members and their pets through education, spay/neuter support, pet health resources, and the re-homing or networking of abandoned, abused or unwanted pets on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota
Animals have played an important role in Lakota history. Dream catchers also have significance and most Native Americans believe the dream catcher holds the destiny of the future. Many people have a dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions. The good is captured in the web of life and carried with the people, but the evil in their dreams drops through the hole in the web and are no longer a part of their lives. The OPP logo captures the good of our animal friends.
Pine Ridge is one of the poorest communities in the country, with an 85% unemployment rate, an even higher alcoholism rate and some homes have no electricity or running water. Some families are overcrowded in homes caring for each other and most pets live their entire lives outside. It is our goal to work through community member volunteers to enhance the quality of life for pets through education, spay/neuter support, pet health resources, and the re-homing of abandoned, abused or unwanted pets.
OPP Mission:
To help community members care for their animals and improve the quality of life for pets through education, spay/neuter support, pet wellness assistance, and the re-homing or networking of abandoned, abused or unwanted pets on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
OPP Programs:
Humane Education - OPP offers humane education programs to community members through wellness clinics and school programs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation—Programs are focused on proper pet care, dog bite prevention, importance of spay/neuter, and various age specific sessions
Pet Food Bank - OPP maintains a clearinghouse of dog and cat food available to community members who could not otherwise afford food for their pets
Fix 'em Please - Spay/Neuter - OPP offers resources and guidance to community members on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation about the spay/neuter their pets, we maintain a clearinghouse of vet groups, organizations, area vet clinics and pet coalitions offering low cost surgery, and in the near future we'll be offering grant assistance for those who cannot afford to fix their dogs or cats
Pet Wellness Clinics - OPP helps make basic pet care—supplies, vaccinations, dewormer, flea & tick and mange treatments—available to Pine Ridge community members who cannot afford to travel to the nearest vet clinic over 60 miles away while coordinating their efforts through CHR/Tribal Animal Control
Re-Homing of Unwanted Pets: OPP offers assistance in placing or networking for abandoned, abused or unwanted pets from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, OPP can only accept owner surrendered pets as foster space is available but they also work with area partners, rescues and shelters organizations to help, AND to view the pets available for adoption click here.
Source
VIDEOS Rescuing Paws on Pine Ridge
Those dogs are so kind... I love them and when I can I will support.
I have served on both the Navajo, Catawba and Blackfeet Reservations. When life is so hard for the people, animals are several steps down on the priority ladder. But I have cried many times at the sad plight of many animals on the reservations. Education and financial aid in proper pet care will go a long way. The people on the rez are kind people who struggle, not bad people who don't care. This aid is so vital in helping the rewarding and valuable relationships between people and their animals. This article has helped ease some of the pain I feel for these situations. Thank you OPP.
P.S. I wish that you had published a contact number to donate to OPP.
We can learn so much from the animals in our life; they are a fountain of love that seems to have no end. This is a good thing, to bring help for the animals. It is the truth that when money and resources are scarce it causes not only a crisis arising from a lack of material goods but hurts the soul as well. Often those that suffer the most are the ones whose voices we do not hear, often times those voices are from our four legged friends. Looking into the faces of these little creatures we see the beauty and love from a pure heart.
This wonderful, OPP needs to provide address and contact no to receive donations and more support. There was a problem in the Santa Cruz Mountains with animals, dogs and cats being dumped. It was so sad!
Here is a link to OPP's website - you can find contact info there: http://www.oglalapetproject.org/