The only way to stop the animal abuse here in Zuni, NM is to open an animal shelter and clinic. 

Community members are back at it again, harming the innocent stray animals who roam the streets of Zuni. Now, you might be thinking “ woah! they’re beating their animals?”, “why are people harming their animals?”, but that’s just a little part of it. I’ve personally seen so many animals who are neglected, abused and sometimes even killed on the sides of roads here in Zuni. Some of these animals have nowhere else to go and end up on the sides of roads, in ditches and sometimes even killed by other animals or even humans. My grandfather who works for Game and Fish has dealt with many malnourished animals who needed saving long before someone called the “Rangers” to pick them up.  I've lost 3 of my dogs that could've been saved if there was a clinic available near me.

There are multiple types of animal abuse, but there are two that constantly happen here in Zuni: animal cruelty and neglect. Animal cruelty is when an animal is hurt intentionally. Animal neglect is simply not giving the animal the basic care needed to survive. Personally, I feel like if there was an animal shelter here in Zuni, there wouldn’t be as many animals roaming the streets. I also feel like many people cannot afford to take dogs to vet clinics or get them neutered since clinics are so far away. (For those reading who don't know, Zuni Pueblo is 45 miles from the nearest town with a veterinary clinic). Another reason I feel like we need an animal shelter here is because of how many animals get injured and abused by owners or community members. I think the Zuni Reservation should invest in creating a veterinary clinic and shelter.

I wasn’t able to get in contact with the Zuni Game and Fish Department but I have done plenty of research on surrounding areas. The reason there is an overpopulation here in Zuni is primarily because pet owners do not get their dogs neutered so the population just keeps increasing. Pet owners cannot afford to take their dogs to shelters or get them neutered because they are so far away and expensive. Here in Zuni there are so many dogs roaming around freely, most are injured, starving, anxious, confused and alone causing them to feel threatened and attack people or livestock.

Here on the Zuni Reservation and on other reservations there are so many animal cases of neglect and abuse. There are so many dogs who are just left tied up outside on scorching hot and/or freezing days. These dogs are tied up 24/7 without any water or food just left outside expected to survive in these harsh conditions. There are other cases here in Zuni where animals, especially dogs are stabbed, beaten, run over and just abused, sometimes for no reason.

Now I must admit, there are people in Zuni who actually take good care of their dogs or animals. This shelter will provide great opportunities for them as well. Such as, getting their animal shoots to prevent infections, sickness and much more. These animals who are well taken care of can also come here for regular check ups. Along with this, since there are so many dogs, these dogs can get infected with diseases like rabies, parvo and more from the stray dogs. At this shelter, they might try to help ensure the safety of your animal.

This shelter will provide comfort for those animals who are anxious and alone. If Zuni was to build this shelter, it would be a safe environment where homeless animals can find comfort and safety all while being cared for and possibly put up for adoption. This shelter will provide temporary housing for animals which will prevent them from being free on the streets, where they can’t find clean water and food, could be hit by vehicles or attacked by humans or other animals.

This shelter will also provide many benefits to the community. So many teens and adults here in the community are very fond of helping animals so I think opening a community animal shelter will be a good thing for Zuni. An animal shelter can help the stray lost and abandoned dogs find new homes or even reunite with their owners. The animal shelter here in Zuni will provide stray animals food, water, medical care, protection, and caring human presence instead of leaving them alone, scared and suffering on the sides of roads, in ditches and nowhere else to turn.

As a tribe, we were raised to live by our Zuni Core Values. A few of our most important values are about respect and being kind to each other. These values are “Hon i:yayyułashshikʼyana:wa”(we will respect each other) and “Hon dewułashshiʼ iwillabaʼ a:dekʼyanna” (We will be kind and generous to one another). Along with this, in my Zuni Culture we were raised to respect our Awideline Tsitda (Mother Earth) and not cause her any harm. I think we should include our animals, who we love, into our core values and treat them with respect, care and love.

Overall, Zuni would really benefit from an animal shelter and clinic because of how badly the stray dogs are being treated and how they treat the well taken care of dogs. This animal shelter will also hopefully teach people the importance of keeping their dogs on leashes especially if the dogs are violent or are carriers of certain viral diseases. Along with this, the animal shelter/clinic can help detect early diseases in animals and give them treatments for it, in order to minimize the spread of diseases among dogs and other animals. The primary goal of the animal shelter/ clinic would be to provide the animals with good care, love and compassion so they can learn that type of behavior is good and treat us with the same love and respect.