This past weekend, Dr. Anna Young, Janet L. Swanson Intern of Shelter Medicine with Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program and I, journeyed to the beautiful New Mexico desert with Soul Dog Rescue to help provide veterinary services to dogs and cats on the Navajo Nation; the largest native territory in the United States, spanning 27,000 square miles.
I have been working with Soul Dog Rescue for the last two years and have participated in over thirteen trips to the Navajo Nation. Soul Dog is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization founded in 2010, with the mission to help the underserved dogs and cats of the Tribal Lands in the Four Corners region. Most of this region has little to no veterinary resources available.
The clinic was based out of a community center gymnasium in Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, which lies in the upper northwest corner of the state. 180 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered, many more vaccinated, in two days. For most of these animals, these clinics are the only time they will receive veterinary care. Here, the problems surrounding pet homelessness, overpopulation, and a lack of accessible veterinary care are exemplified. Stray dogs and cats are picked up by animal control where there is primarily one outcome for them; euthanasia.
Soul Dog Rescue funds and operates approximately 1-2 MASH-style high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) clinics per month in the Four Corners region. Clinics are set up in gymnasiums, chapter houses, community buildings, schools, and other buildings. Owners are asked to make a small donation ($10-$15 per pet), but no one is ever turned away for financial reasons.
Animals receive vaccinations and dewormer, as well as their spay/neuter surgery. Although the surgery performed is primarily spays and neuters, it is not uncommon for other procedures to be done. I have been on many clinics now where an animal required an amputation, mass removal, or other non-routine surgery.
Last year, an owner came in carrying their dog that had just been hit by a car. They had heard we were in town and came to see if we could help. The dog’s back right leg was obviously broken (pieces of bone visible). I performed an amputation on the dog, and it did very well. I still receive pictures and videos from the owner. She was extremely grateful for our help because she would have otherwise had to euthanize her dog given the circumstance.
Being able to share this work with interns is deeply rewarding and provides a window into the stark reality of the lack of accessible veterinary care that exists in the United States.
When asked about what stood out to her most about this experience, Dr. Young said, “the highlights were learning various techniques used in spay and neuter surgeries that really increased my surgical efficiency without compromising patient care. I felt like I really grew in my confidence as a surgeon and was able to see what’s possible with few resources.”
To learn more about Soul Dog Rescue or contribute to their life saving work, please follow the link below:
https://www.souldog.org/
Written by: Dr. Renee Staffeld
Clinical Instructor, Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program
