Pine Ridge Indian Reservation dog finds his new family
January 27th, 2014
Billie Bob was just a puppy when RedRover Responders assisted in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation dog relocation project in the summer of 2013. Billie Bob, a black Labrador mix, was relocated from the reservation where he faced a life of hunger, cold and limited veterinary care, and through the efforts of the RedRover Responders program, was safely placed with a partnership agency for adoption. The humane society placed Billie Bob into foster care with Ava, a foster parent for the shelter, where she fell in love with the bouncy black pup, and ended up adopting him. Ava gave us an update on Billie Bob (now named “Rango”) in his new home:
“When I first met Rango he was the saddest puppy that I had ever seen. I pulled him out of his kennel (which has turned out to be his safe haven whenever he was stressed) and pet him, but he gave no reaction, just sat there in a ball looking at the ground.
I chose Rango because I really wanted to see him act like the puppy he was and wag his tail and be happy. By day three Rango was playing and jumping; my heart could have exploded I was so happy! Our neighbor’s dog “Boo” is his best buddy (Boo was also adopted from the local shelter).
Now Rango is usually the best behaved dog in our interactions with new dogs – he just loves them! Rango is a very calm dog that is happy to just hang out and enjoy the weather.
He loves to be outside and we go hiking and climbing with him all the time. He never has to be on a leash when we are in the woods and he has gotten so strong in the last few months. His mange has cleared up and he eats really well now.
Rango and I just finished a backpacking trip in the Wind River Range in Western Wyoming and he was hiking 10-15 miles a day with no problem. He just loved it and we just love him!”
