RedRover providing assistance to help Pine Ridge Indian Reservation dogs
Sacramento, CA (January 13, 2015) – RedRover, a California-based nonprofit organization, has provided two grants to LightShine Canine Rescue to assist with their relocation efforts of dogs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. LightShine Canine Rescue works to relocate stray and unwanted dogs off the reservation, and have recently increased their efforts after tribal authorities have expanded their large-scale dog roundups to dispose of roaming dogs on the reservation.
RedRover has awarded the rescue group a grant of $1,500 to fund basic veterinary care for the reservation dogs, including spay and neuter surgeries for population control and vaccinations. An additional grant of $1,680 was provided to build six temporary holding pens for the dogs while they await transport off the reservation. Both grants enable LightShine Canine Rescue to practice their “paws off the ground” mission of physically removing free-roaming dogs off the reservation lands and saving them from potential death at the hands of the mass roundups.
The RedRover Responders program provides temporary sheltering assistance to animals in crisis, and volunteers were deployed to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the summer of 2013 to assist with relocation efforts. While LightShine Canine Rescue works with the Oglala Sioux Tribe to relocate dogs, RedRover continues to assist by providing grants and offering sheltering expertise.
“RedRover’s grants allow us to give the Pine Ridge dogs two things: justice and mercy,” said KC Willis of LightShine Canine Rescue. “First, their grant for veterinary funding allows us to do the dog population justice by lowering the number of dogs on the reservation through targeted spay and neuter efforts, and reducing the problem of free-roaming dogs. Second, the RedRover grant that will help build temporary holding pens for rescued dogs will give dogs mercy; it will allow us to physically pull more dogs off the reservation who would otherwise be subject to the elements, starvation, or these mass roundups. These grants will help us save these dogs’ lives.”
The RedRover Responders program continues to monitor the activity on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation while still deploying volunteers to animal emergencies. RedRover’s other animal programs also help people and pets in crisis. The RedRover Relief program provides financial assistance for pet owners and victims of domestic violence, and the RedRover Readers program aims to develop empathy and understanding of animals in children to create a more compassionate society for the future.
About LightShine Canine Rescue
LightShine Canine Rescue rescues and relocates unwanted and stray dogs from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with full cooperation and permission from the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Follow their work at facebook.com/LightShineCanines
About RedRover
Founded in 1987, RedRover focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at RedRover.org.
Media contact
Danielle Gates
Communications Coordinator
dgates@RedRover.org
916.429.2457 ext. 316
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