By Jennifer Casey
United Animal Friends recently took in sixteen dogs from a hoarding situation on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico after receiving a plea from a fellow rescue organization. The owners had so many dogs, they couldn’t afford to feed them all or properly care for them, and the organization that contacted us couldn’t take them.
We knew ahead of time that one dog, Reba, was coming with a litter of puppies, but it wasn’t until the day they were due to arrive in Prescott that we discovered another dog in the group, Tulie, was not only pregnant but had given birth that very morning.
Both moms were fearful and very protective of their babies, making it difficult to get them settled into the segregated mom and pups buildings at the UAF Rescue Ranch. These poor mamas didn’t understand that we were trying to help. They and did their best to keep us away from their pups, but eventually all were safely bedded down in their cozy quarters.
We soon learned that it wasn’t just the moms who were fearful. All but one of the adult dogs were under-socialized due to their lack of exposure to people. They were also very confused at finding themselves in this new situation. Our caring staff and volunteers worked patiently to make them feel safe, acclimate them to their new life, and prepare them for adoption.
We gave the puppies plenty of interaction with a variety of people at our weekly dog enrichment sessions so they’d be ready for adoption once they were spayed or neutered. While we made good progress with most of the dogs, Reba, Tulie, and Teddy continued to be extremely shy and fearful.
Sometimes the best way to help another being is knowing when you need to ask for help. United Animal Friends has spent years cultivating relationships with a broad network of rescue organizations in the southwest, which lets us all work together for the greater good of animals.
In most instances, UAF is the one taking in adoptable pets from underserved areas so we can get them adopted into loving homes. This time, we were the ones needing help from an organization with vast experience in rehabilitating fearful dogs, so we reached out to Best Friends, the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals.
Best Friends is headquartered in Kanab, Utah, with additional lifesaving centers in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Houston, Bentonville, and New York. The Salt Lake City lifesaving center—which works collaboratively with animal rescue groups, city shelters, and individuals dedicated to making Utah a no-kill state—agreed to accept Reba, Tulie, and Teddy.
Thrilled that the dogs would receive the expert care they needed, we now needed to find a way to transport them to Salt Lake City—a ten-hour drive from Prescott. Because the dogs were so fearful and could quickly bolt in a panic, they would need to be kept in their carriers to ensure their safety for the entire trip. That would be an uncomfortable trip, and not the best start to the next chapter of their lives.
One of the UAF volunteers with flight experience started thinking of a better way: why not fly them? Once again, we needed to reach out for help.
The cost of flying them in a private plane would have been prohibitive, but when Judy contacted Leighnor Aircraft at the Prescott Regional Airport and explained the situation to Jerred Clark, the office manager, he and another pilot, Nigel Legallet, agreed to fly the dogs to Salt Lake City for free.
A few days later, our ranch manager, Kris, brought the dogs to the the airport before dawn for their private flight, and soon they were off to their next step in getting the lives they deserve. We’re thrilled that Best Friends will be providing the expert care these dogs need. We’re also extremely grateful to these generous pilots for helping them get there.
After the flight, Jarred said, “I’m just happy that the dogs are in a better place, and that they’re getting the help they need.”
Because Best Friends allowed us to free up some space by taking these three, they asked if we could take in two dogs from the Kayenta, Arizona shelter located on the reservation.
Due to the lack of resources and demand, remote shelters like this one have a particularly hard time getting dogs adopted. They rely on organizations such as ours to bring the animals to areas where they can be seen and adopted into loving families.
Jimmy Dean and Polly Ann soon filled the vacancies.
Jimmy Dean is a loving, gentle, two-year-old (our best guess) hound-dog mix who enjoys making new friends. He gets along great with other dogs and loves soaking up attention from people.
Whether he’s exploring the yard with his nose to the ground or just relaxing by someone’s side, he’s happiest when he’s part of the action and surrounded by love.
Polly Ann is a mixed-breed beauty with a heart of pure gold. At around three years old (again, our best guess), she’s the perfect blend of youthful energy and grown-up charm. She’s super outgoing, incredibly friendly, and absolutely adores meeting new people. She’s the kind of pup who thinks everyone she meets is her new best friend.
Could you be the new best friend for either of these wonderful dogs?
If you’d like to learn more about Jimmy Dean, Polly Ann, or any of our other adoptable dogs or cats, please visit unitedanimalfriends.org. While you’re there, please consider donating to one of our critically needed programs, including the Foster/Adopt Program, Spay/Neuter Program, Emergency Medical Program or Community Pet Food Bank. Your support makes happy endings happen.
