Leech Lake Legacy believes that by working together and collaborating with a larger network of animal welfare organizations, we will be able to do more for reservation animals and pet owners (www.leechlakelegacy.org)
*Leech Lake Legacy is a 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organization
We are gearing up for our 2nd spay/neuter and vaccination clinic in 2013. Our clinic will be held on Friday and Saturday (May 17-18, 2013) at the Leech Lake Tribal Police Headquarters in Cass Lake (Leech Lake residents only).
We will also be offering wellness checks and vaccinations only.
Our clinic is held in partnership with the Leech Lake Tribal Police and Kindest Cut.
Funding for our May clinic has been provided by the Leech Lake Environmental Health division and a generous donor. Vaccinations for surgery patients has been donated by Minnesota Spay Neuter Project.
Ahnung (pronounced ah-NUNG, and means 'star' in ojibway) is Legacy's older sister, mentor, and best friend. Like Legacy, she was a rescue from a reservation ... she, however, came from Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. She was rescued by Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue on Red Lake Reservation in the fall of 2008 - abandoned with her litter of 8 puppies, no front teeth from grinding her teeth down to her gums in search of food, and a survivor of heartworm, a couple gun shots, and lymes.
It wasn't long until I realized just how amazing Ahnung was and how her purpose on this planet was for one much greater than I could even imagine ... she is a registered therapy dog and has touched the lives and hearts of at-risk youth and her friends she has spent time with in hospice as a part of our volunteer work. Unfortunately, in 7/2011 she was diagnosed with mammary cancer and had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor; in 4/2012 she was diagnosed with a second rare and very aggressive cancer (invasive adenosquamous carcinoma) and underwent surgery to radically remove the tumor in her neck/back; in 11/2012 the cancer had metastasized to her lungs. We began chemo but after 30 days of chemo learned the tumor was continuing to grow, so at the end of December, 2012 we stopped chemo and made the decision to enjoy her Final Walk (http://mariloureflects.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-final-walk.html). As of today, 5/3/2013, she continues to do well and to touch the hearts of many ... I am grateful for every day we have together.
Ahnung, touching hearts (paws to little hands) of the little ones :)
Ahnung has been to every spay/neuter and vaccination clinic at Leech Lake Reservation. She was the inspiration and the fire and passion behind raising the funds for our first ever spay/neuter and vaccination clinic in March, 2012 at Leech Lake Reservation. She helped raised funds for our 2nd clinic. My hope is that she will be well enough to be at her fourth spay/neuter clinic on May 17-18, 2013.
Ahnung has been and will continue to be a north star for many ... and she is, without a doubt, a Legacy of Love. As the design on the back of the t-shirts and hoodies read ... she represents Love. Hope. Resilience (You can follow Ahnung on facebook at: www.facebook.com/AhnungNorthStar)
Ahnung would like to help raise funds for future spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. Please consider purchasing an Ahnung t-shirt and/or hoodie.
Pre-order your Ahnung t-shirt/hoodie
All funds raised go to Leech Lake Legacy
Deadline: Sunday, May 20, 2013
Hoodies (Texas Orange): $40/each - ($2 for each X over XL)
Long-sleeve (Kiwi): $25/each - ($1 for each X over XL)
Short-sleeve (Orchid or Pistachio): $20/each - ($1 for each X over XL)
For youth sizes we have short sleeve in texas orange and hoodies in red, dark purple or blue.
If you would like your order shipped to you, please add $5.
Payment must be received by May 20, 2013.
Payment options (Paypal) or mail your check to (please provide the following info: items being ordered, color of t-shirt if ordering short-sleeve, and quantity and sizes):
Leech Lake Legacy
PO Box 385454
Bloomington, MN 55438
If you would like to pay by credit card (Paypal) send an email with your order info, to info@leechlakelegacy.org, and an invoice through paypal will be sent to you.
A few days ago we got an email inquiring about one of the puppies we had brought down on a recent transport. The woman indicated that she had adopted a dog in the past that had come from Leech Lake Legacy. After answering her question, I of course had to ask her more about the dog she adopted ... We got the following email back :)
"We
adopted "Nico" from the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley on
November 13th. I think we met her right when she was put out on the
floor for adoption. Her name was "Dimples" at the shelter and we were
told she had only been there a couple of days-if that. So, I am assuming
she was part of a November 10th transport (if there was one).
We
have often wondered if her mother or siblings were on her transport and
routed elsewhere. Almost everyone that meets her has a "guess"of what
breeds she might be.
As
it is with probably so many of your rescues, she was in a sad state
when we adopted her. We treated her for fleas, flea dermatitis, mange
(it took 3 treatment cycles), worms, and more.
She
has remarkable coloring and a very sweet temperament to match. We have
two boys at home, ages 3 and 8 years old, she interacts with them as if
they were all meant to be together. She is my constant shadow and a
wonderful companion.
I
have attached a recent photo so that you can see how she is blossoming
as a loved family member. I also have a puppy pic included in case you are interested.
I thank you for bringing her to us."
I looked back at our records and confirmed that yes, Dimples did come down on the November 10th, 2012 transport. In fact, on 11/10/12 we held our 2nd Great Puppy Roundup so Dimples was one of 59 animals surrendered to Leech Lake Legacy on that day and transported to the Animal Humane Society to be placed up for adoption!
The following is a link to photos from the 11/10 Great Puppy Roundup II:
A couple weeks ago I asked my contact and friend, Carrie, at the Animal Humane Society if she would be willing to reach out to a certain adopter [Carrie was the amazing writer of the recent article in the Animal Humane Society/AHS, Animal Tracks, that featured the partnership of Leech Lake Legacy and AHS ... and Legacy (well, baby Legacy) was featured on the front cover of the magazine]. In September, 2011 Leech Lake Legacy transported 13 puppies from Leech Lake Reservation. These precious 13 puppies spent five days in my home ... and then after 5 days, 10 of them made their way to AHS to be placed up for adoption. Luna was one of the 10, and Legacy (her brother) was one of the 3 who remained with me as they were too sick. I fostered Legacy and (Lenny and Lazarus) through Act V Rescue & Rehabilitation. Ultimately, I adopted Legacy as he had wiggled his way into my heart. I have often wondered how his sibling Luna was doing ... they resembled each other in so many ways when they were tiny puppies ...
Legacy on the front cover of Animal Tracks!
I was so happy to receive an email tonight from Emily and Stan (Luna's adoptive family!):
My name is Emily. I recently received an email from Carrie from AHS and
found out that you and your organization saved our pup Luna and that her
brother, your pup Legacy, was on the cover of Animal Tracks!!! My husband
Stan and I then did some internet searching on your organization and ended up
finding some pictures of Luna and her 12 siblings, as well as blog posts about
their rescue. What a cool thing to learn about Luna's history.
We cannot thank you
enough for saving our Luna and so, so, so many other animals.
Luna is such an awesome dog - she is so sweet and
loves absolutely everything!! She has a dog sister, Roxi, our 5 year old
Yellow English Lab. Luna loves being outside and loves to run and sprint
or prance after squirrels. We have a fenced in backyard and she could stay
out there all day long...even in the winter. It always amazes me
that she doesn't get cold out there when it's frigid or blizzarding.
Roxi wants to come in right away and Luna is still running
around completely unaffected! We went out West several times this
winter on ski trips and she was in absolute heaven in the
mountains. Luna also just loves the dog parks that we go to
frequently. She loves playing and running with the other
dogs. The second we enter the fence, she is just gone! She'll
run and run and run and finally come back to us. Roxi has always
stayed within eyesight of us, if not 10-20 feet away, but not Luna, she's
gone, but she'll always come back :)
Luna when she arrived - Sep. 1, 2011
She also loves toys of all kinds - stuffed
animals (that she carries around everywhere), nylabones, balls (that she
will play with even by herself), and especially toys that crinkle or that have
little squeekers that she can squeek rapidly. When I vacuum
and put the toys on a table/couch/chair, she drags them all back down by the
time I'm done. It's funny because Roxi was never particularly fond of
toys. I bought so many toys to find the type of toy Roxi would like, but
she was always like "thanks but no thanks". So it's great that Luna
loves them. Now whenever Roxi wants to play with Luna, or
visa versa, she grabs a toy and then Luna will steal it from
her...Roxi lets her and then they start their 'dog play'...it's so funny.
Luna will also tell you that she wants attention or wants to play by bringing
you one of her toys and dropping it in your lap as a gift.
In the summer, we
spend as much time as we can on the water - swimming and boating - and Luna
loves it. Roxi's favorite thing to do is swim and Luna is right there
beside her. Roxi likes to float on inflatible floaties and has taught Luna
how to as well...everyone thinks it's so funny. Luna is great around all
our neices and nephews too. She is so light on her feet...she'll sneak
right up on you! I often wake up in the morning to Luna's sweet face about
1/4 of an inch from my face..somehow she manages to not touch her nose to my
nose and subliminally wake me up! She'll also often lay her head on
your lap...she's so sweet.
Another photo of Luna from Sept, 2011
I've attached some
pictures of Luna!
Also, we were
curious about what kind of dog Luna was, so as a little Chistmas present we did
a doggy DNA test (just a saliva swab) and found out what type of dog she
is. It's kind of fun and nice to know since everyone asks. If you're
interested, I've attached the details.
Thanks so so so much
for all that you do!!
Emily &
Stan
Luna and her sister Roxi
Luna ... like her brother Legacy, she has ears with personality!
Here's an easy way to help support Leech Lake Legacy and to make a difference for the animals of Leech Lake Reservation ....
For a $40 donation to Leech Lake Legacy (through July 31, 2013), you get a FREE pet portrait session and 1 FREE 8x10 print at Photographers Guild in St. Paul, MN.
Call The Photographer's Guild today and schedule your session.
Ahnung (Legacy's sister) has had a couple photo shoots at Photographers Guild!!
We got an update on one of our adorable pups who arrived on the 12/21/2012 transport from northern Minnesota. Cyna (formerly Jocelyn) was one of 4 puppies, originally from Red Lake Reservation). Leech Lake Legacy partners with Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue to help in the placement and transport of animals from Red Lake. Our weekly transports include animals from Leech Lake and Red Lake Rez, the Bemidji Impound and Roseau Impound.
A big thanks to the awesome staff at the Buffalo Animal Humane Society for taking good care of our pups and loving them till they found their own special homes :)
This morning we got updated photos of Cyna who is a growing girl ... and adorable as ever.
"She
is doing very well. She is up to 50lbs and still ALL puppy. Our vet
says she will be around 75lbs when full grown and she will always
have floppy ears. J
She is smart and has learned all the basic commands, Sit, Say, Go. She
loves
going for walks, but is also comfortable just sitting in the yard
watching everything. We still have her on a leash when we are outside
since she appears to like to chase cars, birds and people. We can only
hope that she gets over that.
She has been a good fit for our family."
And here are more photos of this sweet girl ...
Baby Cyna and Ethan
5 month old Cyan .. and still growing!!
Cyna and her siblings (when they arrived at Red Lake)
Thanks to our partner the Animal Humane Society for featuring the Leech Lake Legacy and AHS partnership in their most recent Animal Tracks magazine that we were connected with the family of one of Kiki's pups. Kiki was a beautiful 1 year old shepherd mix who was rescued, along with her 4 pups, by the Leech Lake Community Services Officer, Rory Haaland in July, 2012 in an abandoned house. To read the full story of Kiki be sure to stop by one of the Animal Humane Society locations to pick up their most recent issue of Animal Tracks. In November, 2012 we also wrote an update blog post on Kiki: http://leechlakelegacy.blogspot.com/2012/11/kikis-bittersweet-story.html.
Kodiak's mom contacted us via our facebook page and wrote the following: "I
am the "Mommy" of Kodiak. Now named Zeus. I was so surprised to open up
this magazine [the AHS Animal Tracks magazine] and find an article about our dog and his family. We are
so happy to hear that his "Fuzzy Mommy" is doing so well and horrified
to hear how bad his life started out. Zeus is an 85 lb healthy puppy. He
is well loved and adores his entire family. Many thanks are due to the
people who saved this entire family of dogs. Thank you. Our family
wouldn't be the same without him."
Animal Tracks magazine featured the LLL/AHS partnership
Thank you Tammy for adopting Kodiak/Zeus and for providing him with such a loving home. I passed a long your photos to Kiki's mom and she was thrilled to get an update :)
I wanted to also share an update on Kiki. Kiki had stem cell therapy treatment and her kidney values have improved dramatically. She will go in for a recheck in 3 weeks and we will continue to pray that her kidney values continue to improve :)
The following is a link to photos of the Leech Lake Legacy 'K3' transport where Kiki and her 4 pups arrived .. you will see Kiki and her adorable 4 pups :) Thanks to the amazing staff at the Buffalo AHS site for taking such good care of them! http://www.flickr.com/photos/mchanrasmi/sets/72157631970589417/
