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Thank you to our Legacy of Love Monthly donors!

Aurora - rescued in April, 2013

We would like extend a heartfelt thank you to our Legacy of Love monthly donors. We currently have 9 recurring donors at the following levels:

Bronze level ($25/month):

• Ahnung (MN)
• Bobbie G. (MN)
• Karen S. (MN)
• Kathy K. (NC)
• Kelli H. (CA)
• Janet W.  (MN)

Silver level ($50/month):

• Herb C. (MN)
• Terri H. (MN)
• Vicki N. (MN)

Update on 7/6/13: We have 2 new Legacy of Love supporters join the club in June: Thank you Alisa K (NY) and Barbara K (MN)!

Please consider joining the Legacy of Love monthly donor club ... If we could add even just one more monthly donor each month that would go a LONG way in helping the dogs and cats of Leech Lake Reservation. It's easy to sign up .... Help spread the word. Our programs and services are continuing to grow and we need your support. You can sign up at the bronze level ($25/mth); silver level ($50/mth); gold level ($75/mth); or Platinum level ($100/mth). We are grateful for any level you are able to afford. All donations are 100% tax-deductible!

Visit our Donate page on the Leech Lake Legacy website to become a Legacy of Love monthly donor ....

http://leechlakelegacy.org/donate.html

And here are some recent statistics as of 5/24/13 (our first two years):

• A total of 1,475 animals have been transferred from Leech Lake Reservation (961 dogs, 513 cats, and 1 duck)
• Breakdown by year: 2011 - 201; 2012 - 937; 2013 (as of 5/24) - 337
• Of the 1,475 animals, 75% were transferred to the Animal Humane Society, 12% to Animal Allies in Duluth, MN; and the remaining 14% were transferred to approximately 20 other partner shelters and rescues
• Leech Lake Legacy has hosted 4 spay/neuter and vaccination clinics in partnership with the Leech Lake Tribal Police. 2 clinics were held in 2012 and 2 clinics have been completed so far in 2013 with two more scheduled (August and October, 2013). 362 dogs/cats were spayed/neutered at the clinics; 207 received wellness checks and vaccinations; 192 animals were surrendered at the clinics and transported to partner shelters to be vetted then placed up for adoption.

May 2013 Spay/Neuter and Vaccination Clinic

Leech Lake Legacy, in partnership with the Leech Lake Tribal Police and Kindest Cut, hosted our 4th spay/neuter and vaccination clinic at Leech Lake Reservation on May 17-18, 2013. The clinic was funded in part by the Leech Lake Environmental Health Services and a generous donor. Vaccinations for surgery patients was donated by Minnesota Spay Neuter Project.

Leech Lake Legacy had approximately 25 volunteers, including Dr. Mary Wictor (shelter vet from Animal Allies in Duluth, MN) and a couple vet techs (thanks Danielle and Jill!). Most volunteers drove from the Twin Cities area and arrived in Cass Lake on Thursday afternoon/evening to begin setting up for the clinic. We had a few volunteers from the Bemidji area and from Federal Dam. Many thanks to the Tribal Police for providing lodging and food for the volunteers, and to Pike Bay Township for the $200 grocery store credit. Many volunteers took time off from work ... and we were very fortunate to have such an awesome group of volunteers.

On Friday morning, we were extremely fortunate to have Mike Smith, a Leech Lake spiritual elder, open up our clinic with an invocation and prayer. Migwitch Mike. Doors opened at 8:00 am on Friday, however, we had residents lining up starting at 6:30 am. The weather was gorgeous and the flow of residents and their pets was constant throughout the day. The Kindest Cut team was busy all day and worked till 10:00 pm on both Friday and Saturday night. Dr. Wictor provided wellness checks and vaccinations on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, 4 specialty surgeries were also done (in addition to the spay/neuter surgeries): a hernia removal, a tumor removal, an eye enucleation, and surgery on a small dog with severe puncture wounds from a dog attack.

Here are stats from the clinic:

- 92 spay/neuter surgeries were completed (50 spays and 42 neuters)
- 63 animals were surrendered (37 cats, 25 dogs and an injured duck)
- 46 wellness checks and vaccinations were provided to pets of residents

Of the 63 surrendered animals, 34 went to the Animal Humane Society and 29 went to Animal Allies in Duluth. All will be vetted then placed up for adoption.

We are extremely grateful for all the amazing people who come together to make our clinics as successful as they are ... the Kindest Cut staff, the volunteers, the Tribal Police, the residents, the Leech Lake Environmental Health Division, our partner shelters, Dr. Wictor, and our donors who make it possible for us to continue our work.

And I would like to give a special shout out to Jenny Fitzer (co-founder of Leech Lake Legacy). Jenny organizes all of our spay/neuter and vaccination clinics and does a phenomenal job recruiting volunteers and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Thanks also to Rory Haaland (Leech Lake CSO) and to Natasha W. (Leech Lake Environmental Health) for your efforts in helping us get the word out about our clinic, and to Ken Washington (Leech Lake Police Chief) for your continued support; thanks to the absolutely amazing Kindest Cut team!; and finally, thanks to all of the amazing LLL volunteers who helped at this clinic: Heidi, Diane D, Sandra, Terri H, Jean, Jenna, Shaldon, Jill, Danielle, Melissa, Martha, Sarah B., Kathleen, Laura B., Matt K., Emily, Nancy and Tom, Amber, Dinie, Kay, Carrie, Ashley, and Dr. Wictor.

And my role for the clinic was to take photos ... I did my best to capture the essence of the event ... the camaraderie, the spirit, the friendship, the love, the kindness, the patience and the desire to help each other in community was truly moving .... so to our friends at Leech Lake Reservation, thank you for welcoming us into your community; thank you for trusting us and for partnering with us.

I put together a video from some of the photos I took:

and here is a link to more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mchanrasmi/sets/72157633528722607/

Migwich.
Marilou/Leech Lake Legacy Co-founder

Leech Lake Spay/Neuter and Vaccination Clinic next week (May 17-18)

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 T-Shirt/hoodie fundraiser for Leech Lake Legacy

Hoodie (texas orange)

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.

Update: Dimples (now Nico)!

Nico as a puppy! :)

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:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mchanrasmi/sets/72157631985901445/

 

We are extremely happy and grateful when adopters find us and send us updates on their beautiful pups.

 

Dear sweet Nico, you have turned into an absolutely gorgeous girl ...

 

Thank you Christine, for opening up your heart and home to Nico and providing her with such a loving home. We are truly grateful :)