Preventing the Spread of Disease on the Navajo Nation

The crisis of animal overpopulation is quite apparent on the Navajo Nation, an area consisting of 17,055,226 acres of land in northeastern Utah, southwestern Colorado, northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico. Not only do thousands of cats and dogs die every year as a result of over-breeding, but residents are put at significant risk of attack from homeless animals who band together in packs. Injury and possible exposure to rabies are major concerns.

The majority of the 210,000 people on the Navajo Nation live on fixed incomes. Consequently, those who have pets can seldom afford the limited veterinary services available. Due to the vast area of the Navajo Nation’s land, 60 percent of the Nation does not receive sterilization services or proper veterinary preventative care for their pets.

While there are four animal control facilities spread over 26,000 square miles to deal with homeless animals, the Nation lacks the financial resources to properly equip and staff these agencies. They possess a limited supply of rabies vaccine and proper equipment to safely handle rabid or aggressive animals.

Basic vaccines to prevent such diseases as parvo, distemper, and hepatitis are lacking and sterilization services are virtually non-existent. The end result is an exploding pet population and an increasing number of animals that carry contagious diseases. The effects of the overpopulation crisis are not limited to the people who have pets; it is systemic throughout the Nation. By reducing over-breeding through sterilization and raising the level of basic animal care, people will not be exposed to contagious diseases or subjected to animal attacks -- and animals will not die from preventable diseases, starvation and neglect.

Step One: Rescuing Unwanted Pets

In 1995, the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) of Houston, Texas, brought the first mobile spay/neuter clinic to the Navajo Nation, a project sponsored by the Pegasus Foundation and HSUS. IFAW became involved in this project in late 1998 when it partnered with the Pegasus Foundation and awarded a grant to the Arizona Humane Society (AHS).

AHS and SNAP initiated Phase I of the "Project Reach Out" mobile spay/neuter clinic program. Working with Native American volunteers on the Navajo Nation, the program rescued unwanted pets, provided veterinary care, and adopted out these animals from AHS’s shelter in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sterilizing Thousands of Dogs and Cats

Phase II of the project began in June 1999, with the launch of Arizona’s first Mobile Spay/Neuter & Animal Wellness Center. Animals from various areas of the Nation were spayed and neutered, vaccinations were generalistered, and hundreds of veterinary services such as deworming and defleaing were provided. There are an estimated 110,000 to 140,000 stray and unwanted animals on the Reservation.

The mobile clinic works at pre-designated locations scheduled in advance on the Navajo Nation. Services are offered free of charge. It also travels to low-income neighborhoods around Phoenix and to some other Native American Reservations near Phoenix where spay/neuter surgeries are performed.

Tribal peoples have said that the mobile clinic project creates a higher level of confidence in and awareness of the veterinary services offered. There has also been a noticeable reduction in the number of stray dogs and cats roaming the areas serviced.

In addition to reducing these problems, there are education goals associated with this project. There is a need to develop an understanding of the importance of vaccinations, deworming, and communicable disease problems of sarcoptic mange-infested pets; instill the concept of spay and neuter procedures as a means to prevent pet over-population within communities; nurture the ideal of pets as family members; and celebrate the long-term relationship we have with them.

IFAW funded the first printing of a cooperative education effort for an annual 20-page bilingual education pamphlet created by the primary and elementary students of the Navajo Immersion Program.

The project consisted of three stages. The educational phase took the Navajo Immersion classes on a tour of the Window Rock Veterinary Clinic where they participated in presentations and hands-on demonstrations on dog and cat care, horse care, cattle care, and sheep/goat care.

During the student activity phase, students developed various word games, puzzles, and drawings. The team activity evaluation involved members from the Language and Cultural Program, the Historic Preservation Program, and teachers from the Navajo Education and Veterinary Program.

The goals of the project were to cooperatively develop and guide students through the educational phase of animal care and responsibilities of pet and livestock ownership; teach school children their role as responsible pet and livestock owners through the use of Navajo language and culture; and use the bilingual pamphlet as a teaching tool for other schools throughout the Navajo Nation.