Our Objectives

• Establish a sustainable and affordable system of community-based basic animal health care services on the Reservation.

• Train and employ Tribal members to provide community-based basic animal health care services and to carry out the other programs of the Lakota Animal Care Project including the enhancing awareness and compassion for animals program, the foster care and adoption program and the spay/neuter assistance program.

• Establish collaborative links with relevant organizations on and off the Reservation (e.g. off-Reservation veterinary clinics, veterinary educational institutions, animal shelters, small business enterprise groups, etc..).

Happy people make happy pets

• Provide regular ongoing no-cost and low-cost opportunities for spay/neuter of dogs, cats and horses on the Reservation.

• Encourage more spay/neuter groups to come to the Reservation and help ensure their visits are successful.

• Train and equip Lakota Animal Care Givers to undertake a humane animal education program in collaboration with elementary schools and others on the Reservation. As part of this effort, they offer Sunka Scouts and Camp Sunka where children learn proper care of animals (dogs, cats & horses) and fun activities to do with their pets. Pets just have fun.

Faron walking Bear on a leash

A Strategic Approach

The Lakota Animal Care Project is designed as a strategic intervention that begins to address the problems as well as their root causes. The approach is participatory and innovative, involving establishing a system of community-based animal health care services, use of the traditional barter system, establishment of a community revolving fund, and development of innovative partnerships. Activities are designed to maximize involvement of local people, thereby enhancing awareness of the issues, and increasing buy-in into the project's objectives. Strategic partnerships are also established with off-Reservation organizations.