A Pack of Veterinary Volunteers Gives Basic Care on Reservation - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

A Pack of Veterinary Volunteers Gives Basic Care on Reservation

A pack of professionals is making sure dogs and cats on the reservation are getting basic veterinary care.

"We provide free vet care in communities where access to veterinary care is otherwise not available, due to both economic and geographic constraints." says Windi Wojdak/Humane Society Rural Area Veterinary Services Director.

Volunteers from around the country have been traveling to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation for more than 10 years.

"Actually we just saw a cat yesterday who was spayed 11 years ago and is now 13 and keeps coming back for her vaccines every year." says Wojdak.

From simple vaccines to surgery, a team of around 40 vet students, veterinarians and veterinary technicians provide many needed services to pets.

"There's a huge reward in seeing clients, families, a lot of children who love their animals, want to provide care, and they can't, they don't have access to basic veterinary care, and animals are suffering from preventable conditions things that are treatable." says Wojdak.

For many pet owners, this is their only option to see the vet all year.

There's a small paid staff but most workers here, like C.J. Smith, are volunteering their time.

"We get their vaccinations, treatments, extend the lives of these dogs and really help the owners who do care, but don't have access to services a lot of time." says Carol "C.J." Smith/Volunteer.

Extending the lives of pets and helping the owners all for the love of animals.

"I think just the fact that they're transparent, he's anxious, people don't want to show vulnerability, he's honest..." says Smith.

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association treats around 8600 animals for free a year.

The Rural Area Veterinary Services team will be on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe for the next week.

They expect to see around one thousand animals total.