Rangers beginnings...
This story begins in South Dakota ;
one hot 2013 summer day
on the vast Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge reservation...
 |
| "Mama Cleo" Photo courtesy of OPP |
The mama dog knew this would be the best place to keep her pups
away from the heat, predators,
and the passing traffic on the highway...
-a 100 foot long culvert right under the highway-
For Mama Cleo and her 10
puppies,
this was their home on the Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge reservation.
Enter the The Oglala Pet Project
(OPP)!
The
OPP are a fantastic group of volunteers and Oglala community members who care
what happens to the animals on the Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge reservation. They have no physical building and have very limited resources, however they have
what is most important; dedicated people who volunteer their time and energy through
various ways to help the animals. OPP's primary concern is to help
fund free spay and neutering programs; this helps control the animal population on the reservation. They also fund a pet
food bank for the Oglala community, sponsor traveling humane pet care
education, along with pet wellness & vaccination clinics; as the closest vet clinic
is over 60 miles away!
OPP has helped over 800 animals
since they first began
as a non-profit in 2011.
This is quite a huge feat considering The Oglala Pet Project has a very limited budget.
But yet OPP still rescues
and find homes for the feral ones,
who live loose on the Pine Ridge Oglala Sioux Reservation
without a caregiver.
Because they care.
This is where
Ranger's story begins.
He was one of Mama
Cleo's pups!
 |
| Rangers puppy belly! Photo courtesy of OPP |
The pups whimpered; it was time to eat.
But Mama Cleo was finding it hard to even get enough food for
herself.
Though she could count on the limited
food placed out for her and the feral others,
the odds of all of the pups surviving was slim.
They needed help.
When the caring people of The Oglala Pet Project were notified there was a feral Mama dog and her 10 pups in a culvert on the Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge reservation, they
sprung into action. It was no easy task to wrestle with all those wild pups
that hot August summer day, and unfortunately one pup would just not come out; they had to leave her behind at first (later they got her to come out, the
naughty girl! Yay!). Soon Mama Cleo and her pups were in the OPP's Foster
Care system where they were assessed, vaccinated and acclimated to people. Mama Cleo's wonderful disposition was very
evident; and her pups followed suit. OPP's volunteer Foster Care
system is a great network of people from the surrounding areas of the Oglala
Sioux Pine Ridge reservation in South
Dakota . This committed group of Foster pet parents care for the animals in their homes
until they are available for adoption. Sometimes there are health concerns such
as flea and tick infestations, mange, even injuries that take time to heal, along with spaying and neutering. The wonderful OPP Foster network does the task of getting the animals healthy again to
find their forever homes.
For Mama Cleo
and her 10 pups,
once they were weaned it was time for for their adoptions!
 |
| Boris aka Ranger! courtesy of OPP |
OPP always try to do their best
in screening potential adopters with their required home checks, referrals and
adoption contract; they even have a policy in their contract that if for some
reason the animal can no longer stay with the Adopter, all animals must be
returned to them, no questions asked. This is because The Oglala Pet Project truly believes all animals should be loved and cared for...
So
with their adoptions complete it was happy endings everywhere;
Mama Cleo and
her pups found their forever
homes right away!
Well...
All except for one little puppy named Boris.
His happy ending came in a little later...
~
The Oglala Pet Project is
a non-profit that relies
on donations to do what they do.
They ARE a people of
action,
and
make the most of what
they have
to do great deeds for
the Oglala Sioux Animals.
Please click on the underlined links below
if you would like to see exactly how wonderful they are!
if you would like to see exactly how wonderful they are!
&
 |
| courtesy of OPP |
(Stay tuned for Ranger's finale coming up on Friday ! )
~
Oh the The Oglala Pet Project sounds like they have great bunch of caring people volunteering to do a wonderful, obviously needed job. I am so happy those cute little puppies and their Mama were found.Mama Cleo looks so old and tired I am so glad she is going to do well and will not have to worry about her puppies or more puppies.I cannot wait till Friday. That is a long time you know?:) But I will make it.Great post. Hug xoB
ReplyDeleteprachtige reportage van hele mooie honden.
ReplyDeleteOMG, he was the cutest puppy! And he's feral! No wonder he found you.
ReplyDeleteYes, feral will find feral :) I had to stay AWAY from the OPP site......so many dogs, so little money, so little time.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
How sweet! I'm glad they found you/him and shared those pictures. Or did he come directly from that shelter straight to you?
ReplyDeleteAwwww...they're so sweet! I'm glad someone was able and willing to rescue them and get them to forever homes. I'm anxious to hear the rest of Ranger's story!
ReplyDeleteI was waiting to read this today....now till Friday. I liked their FB page. Cleo looks like a sweet girl - 10 puppies are alot to care for.
ReplyDeleteGW Feral Woman,
ReplyDeleteWhat a story!!! Can't wait to hear about Ranger's story!
OPP, great organization.
Oh what a cute puppy belly pic! What a treasure for you to have Ranger's history. Can't wait for the rest of the story again!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for including the links! Ranger was adorable, even as a Boris,
ReplyDeleteFeral Ranger has found a great feral home. What a handsome dog. So glad there are people out there who work so hard to rescue animals like him.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful story! Such a handsome dog would have such an exciting and multi-layered biography!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is completely
ReplyDeleteuttterly
absolutely
and most definitely beyond reason,
warmed by this post.
Thank you. I now have some renewed hope in humanity ...
Go Ranger! Bless you all.
Wow, Ranger looks so much like his Mama! My dog Boca was formerly a street dog in The Bahamas who had at least one litter of puppies.
ReplyDeleteWow...I love that people take care of animals like this in such a heartwarming and caring way. I don't think animals should have to fend for themselves unless they are wild. I love stories with happy endings. Ranger is adorable.
ReplyDeleteCindy bee
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it. Heartwarming on a cold winter day.
ReplyDeleteHope you are all doing well. See you in the spring. Blessings and Bear hugs! (Now, back to hibernation.)
P.S.: Yes, you are trying — I realize that. Very trying, indeed.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story! My husband and I adopted a four month old puppy from The Western Hills Humane Society in June 2014. We were told by my mother, who volunteers there, that he was originally rescued with a large litter of puppies from the Pine Ridge Reservation and was the last puppy to be adopted out of the litter. Unfortunately, there wasn't much more information than that attached to his case. I am wondering if he is perhaps a member of Ranger's litter. He looks a bit like Ranger and looks very, very similar to Mama Cloe. (I wish I could attach photos here.) He now lives in Chicago, where he plays in the waves of Lake Michigan and relaxes on our rooftop garden.
ReplyDeleteI just realized the birth years (2013/2014) don't match up but Marvin's (our pup) physical similarities to Mama Cloe made me want to leave my post here on the off chance there may be some sort of connection between Ranger's story and Marvin's. Thank you again!
Delete