The NRRO has been active in establishing relationships with American Indian communities in the region since opening its doors more than 10 years ago. We are very proud of the progress made on many of the reservations and would like to outline some of the current projects.

The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, located on the South Dakota plains, has been visited for many years by The HSUS’s Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS), which provides free spay/neuter services, veterinary care, and humane education to reservation residents and their pets. Most recently, the tribe has employed a full-time animal control officer. Concerned residents have formed the Good River Humane Society (GRHS), which will sit on five acres of tribal-donated land and serve as a shelter for companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. Even though the shelter building is still in the works, the GRHS is already making a mark. The group asked our office for assistance in revising tribal animal ordinances. The revised ordinances will be uniform across all the towns and villages of the reservation and will help guide the new animal control enforcement division.

Following a very successful partnership last summer, the Crow Reservation in southern Montana also asked for NRRO’s assistance in improving its tribal animal ordinances. The Crow Rodeo Committee asked NRRO to help develop signs and flyers that would educate all rodeo contestants about the tribal ordinances requiring the humane treatment of animals. These materials will continue to educate participants in future events such as the annual Crow Rodeo, an Indian National Finals rodeo, and the Crow Fair—the largest pow wow in the United States.

The Ute Mountain Reservation, located near the Four-Corners area of Colorado, is also making strides as the tribe’s animal control officer and other members of the community seek NRRO assistance in tightening their animal control ordinances. The tribe’s attorney has also expressed interest in improving the tribe’s animal control practices. Ute Mountain tribal employees and a local animal rescue group are also very busy. They have asked for NRRO’s assistance in bringing more humane education opportunities into the schools and developing a program to move adoptable dogs from the reservation to shelters across the state. One Ute Mountain employee even organized the first annual Rez Dog Show, an event targeted at reservation children. Currently, the tribe is focusing on a number of spay/neuter clinics and the distribution of doghouses.

With your support, our office will be able to continue to bolster American Indian community efforts to protect animals.