Spread Love, Help Others 2022 GTM Day

A family of abandoned dogs living in a woodpile in the middle of a cruel winter. A mom, 5 pups, and a dad.  An LTAR volunteer spends hours in the bitter cold, wading through knee-deep snow, to ensure that each pup, each parent, are brought to safety.  LTAR provides food, shelter, and veterinary care.

A young black dog now named Zorah, running loose at a rodeo gets run over by a horse trailer. Again, an LTAR volunteer steps up and manages to capture the little girl before she is trampled by rodeo animals. Zorah’s leg must be amputated.

 Poppy the kitten is found outside with one eye protruding and the other sealed shut with infection. A young girl says her mom knew we ‘helped animals’. Poppy gets the veterinary care she needs through LTAR and is transported to one of LTAR’s Rescue Partners.

On any given day, morning, noon and night, we get notified of animals that have been abused. Animals that have been run over by cars. Animals that have been abandoned. Animals that have never known human kindness. Animals that are loved but turned over to us by owners who can’t afford the veterinary care necessary to save them from various accidents or diseases.

We never know what each day will bring. Dogs Rocket and Magoo were both hospitalized for Parvo at the same time. Magoo’s bill was $2400.  Yep. $2400.  He wouldn’t be alive and wagging his tail today, though, without receiving the immediate veterinary intervention that he did.

 Thanks to the funds in LTAR’s reserves, we are able to provide many animals with veterinary treatment that saves their lives. Rocket and Magoo are now healthy and safe.

Sometimes, it’s necessary to pay for humane euthanization. We had a cat this year with injuries that indicated he was most likely beaten severely. In addition to testing positive for FIV, his injuries were too extensive for him to overcome. With sadness, LTAR provided the funds to release him from his pain.

Every animal that comes under LTAR’s care is saved from suffering, whether by necessary veterinary care and transportation to a Rescue Partner, or by humane euthanization, solely because of LTAR funds.

We try to help them all, in any way we can. Because we truly believe that each animal is a creature of the Creator. Reservation rescue is difficult. It’s heartbreaking. And, many times, because of the kindness of our community members, it’s also heartwarming. That’s the nature of Reservation rescue.

In recent years, LTAR considered a budget of $3000 a year plenty to cover our emergency vetting needs.   This year, we are already at over $7000. We are very worried about the emergency veterinary visits that will, without a doubt, be needed these next months as winter quickly approaches.   It’s going to be cold. There will be blizzards. And there is no doubt – no doubt at all - that there will be animals trying and failing to survive. Just like the mother dog who tucked her pups into the frozen woodpile. They do the best they can, these unfortunate creatures. But they face insurmountable odds. Most of them that LTAR encounters will need immediate veterinary assistance, whether it is light or dark, weekday or weekend.

From 2021-2022, our animal intake has almost doubled. Last year the intake number was 572.   Where would those almost 600 animals be now, had LTAR not had the funds available to help them?  We shudder to think of it.

On a very positive note, we are thrilled to let you know that we were recently able to facilitate 141 spay/neuter surgeries in just a period of two days at the recent Spay/Neuter clinic. That is a new record for us. We have done 450 spay/neuter surgeries for animals in the community just this year. It’s impossible to calculate how many litters of animals, how many individual puppies and kittens, were saved from ending up homeless and unable to fend for themselves due to these surgeries.

The number of sterilizations performed this past year demonstrate the huge impact LTAR is making on the Reservation in terms of relieving animal suffering and resolving the pet overpopulation problem.

And that is why we need your help more than ever during this year’s Give to the Max Day.  With our Emergency vet bills being so high, along with our Community Vetting Program costs and the funds routinely spent for pet food, cat litter and other supplies to feed and care for all the animals, we’ve barely been able to keep our heads above water this year.

LTAR is making a difference to animals like Poppy, Rocket and Magoo because of generous donors like you. With your Give to the Max donation today, you are helping LTAR make a difference in animals lives tomorrow.

 LTAR only succeeds because of its donors and supporters. We thank you so very much for your generosity as the harshness of winter approaches.