A Rising Tide Lifts all Boats

This is a quote that was used in several speeches delivered by President John F. Kennedy during both his time as President and as a Massachusetts Senator.  This quote gives illustration to the concept of Give to the Max Day– a day that brings together the generous people of Minnesota in support of nonprofit organizations that, together, help to strengthen communities in our State.

This quote also embodies the work of Leech Lake Legacy because we believe that by working together in collaboration with a large network of animal welfare organizations, we will be able to do more for reservation animals and pet owners.

Leech Lake Legacy is one of the organizations that will be campaigning for funds on Give to the Max Day in order to further our mission to ensure that every reservation dog and cat is well cared for.  Without our supporters, we would not have been able to touch the lives of over 3,000 animals since we began this work in May 2011.

We believe that every animal matters and that all lives have purpose and meaning.  For Leech Lake Legacy, our purpose is to be a resource to the animals and pet owners of the Leech Lake reservation by providing surrender and transportation services, low-cost spay/neuter/wellness clinics, adequate outdoor shelter, and educational programming.   Since May 2011, we have done 1,901 transfers; performed 606 spay/neuter surgeries; and administered 413 wellness exams/vaccinations.

But this work could not be possible without our supporters – generous people just like YOU who give of your time, talent, and treasure to help these animals in need.

On Thursday, November 14^th, be a part of the rising tide and help to raise OUR boat!  Support Leech Lake Legacy and make a difference in the lives of reservation dogs and cats…because they matter.

To donate click here. 

Dexter

Dexter is a 2.5 year old St. Bernard who came down on transport on 10/25/13. About a week after he arrived he broke with parvo. Leech Lake Legacy has taken Dexter back into their program and is treating him for parvo. Your donation will help us care for animals like Dexter so that he is given the second chance we believe he deserves.

Spay/Neuter and vaccination clinics

Weekly transports

Xanti is now up for adoption!

Xanti arrived on the 9/29/13 transport from Leech Lake Reservation. She was a stray up at Leech Lake Reservation, and had been affectionately called 'Crooked Face' up at Leech Lake Reservation as she was seen wandering around the reservation but would never came too close to people. Rory, Leech Lake Community Services Officer, was finally able to catch the ever so aloof Xanti in a live trap. With winter approaching, we are extremely grateful Rory was able to catch her so that we could bring her down to the cities and to our partner, Animal Humane Society/AHS, to be placed up for adoption.

When she arrived on 9/29 at the AHS Buffalo site   there was duct tape on her crate, 'Extremely fearful ... Caution!' We lifted her crate down from the cargo van where she had just spent 3.5 hours on transport with 12 other Leech Lake and Red Lake reservation animals. We opened up the crate door and she looked at us and cowered further back into her crate. As usual, we had the warm, welcoming committee of the staff at the Buffalo AHS ... big smiles and excitement to meet the precious critters arriving on transport. We let them know that one of the animals on transport (Xanti) was very shy and fearful. You could just feel the energy shift .... kind, soft, gentle energy surrounded Xanti and body language from the staff that indicated to Xanti, 'I'm not a threat.' They got down to Xanti's level, avoided eye contact, and just let her come to them. Within seconds Xanti was not only out of her crate, but she had found safety and refuge behind Tina, one of the Buffalo AHS animal care staff.

Xanti ... brave girl :)

Xanti, along with her friends who joined her on the 9/29/13, were then taken to the intake area of the Buffalo AHS. We were assured that Xanti would get lots of love and TLC and the time she needed :) Xanti spent some time at the Buffalo site then was transferred to their Golden Valley site to go through their 'Ad Prep' program (it is their Adoption Preparation program for shy and fearful dogs). Xanti has competed the Ad Prep program and is now ready to find her own special home for the holidays.

With her 'crooked face' (the vets have determined it to be something genetic) we all think she's even more beautiful. There is an incredible spirit in this sweet girl. Many of us were the the Golden Valley AHS site yesterday for a Leech Lake Legacy Celebration party, and after the celebration, a few of us walked through the adoption floor to visit with Xanti. She has come a long way and came up to the front of her kennel. She wags her tail and eagerly waits for staff.

Thank you to Rory for persisting and catching Xanti so that she will not have to spend the winter trying to survive out in the bitter cold finding shelter and food; thank you to AHS (and all your amazing staff and volunteers) for taking her in and providing her with the love, care, and kindness she needed to help her come out of her shell.

Let's help spread the word on this amazing girl ... she deserves only the best from this day forward!! :)

You can visit Xanti at the Golden Valley Animal Humane Society. For more information, click here.

Miigwech.

Xanti finds comfort with Tina (AHS staff)

Leech Lake Legacy ... This We Believe

The following 'We Believe' statement is the foundation and the guiding/moral compass of Leech Lake Legacy ... the We Believe statements were first written in early 2009 shortly after Ahnung (a Red Lake reservation dog) came into my life through Karen Good, Red Lake elder and founder of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. Ahnung (means 'star' in ojibway) was my north star from the very beginning. She was the inspiration and the fire behind Leech Lake Legacy when we were first called to assist the animals of Leech Lake Reservation in April, 2011 by Karen Good who sent an email out to her network of supporters ... "is there anything we can do to help a neighboring reservation?" And now, 2.5 years later, Leech Lake Legacy and Red Lake Rosie's Rescue collaborate and work closely together to provide support and assistance to the animals and pet owners of Leech Lake and Red Lake Reservations.

Ahnung, who crossed over into the spirit world on August 25, 2013, continues to guide us. She was our bridge in the fall of 2008 while she was here on earth in physical form. She continues to be a bridge to so many of us, as she continues to guide us, and connect us with each other, from the spirit world.

Chi Miigwech Ahnung. Chi Miigwech Karen ....

Marilou/Co-Founder, Leech Lake Legacy

Ahnung and Legacy

To read more about Ahnung:
http://mariloureflects.blogspot.com/2013/08/rest-in-peace-ahnung-shine-on-brightly.html

Leech Lake Legacy Spay/Neuter Clinic & Great Puppy Roundup - 11/1/2013

Leech Lake Legacy, in partnership with the Leech Lake Tribal Police will be hosting a ONE day spay/neuter clinic and a Great Puppy Roundup on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Leech Lake Tribal Police headquarters in Cass Lake, MN. Many thanks to the City of Cass Lake, Pet Haven of Minnesota and the ASPCA/Live Oak Bank for providing funding for the spay/neuter clinic and the Great Puppy Roundup.

If you live in the Onigum area on Leech Lake Reservation and have animals you would like to surrender but are unable to make it to the Tribal Police headquarters in Cass Lake on 11/1 please email us at leechlakelegacy@gmail.com. If there is a need, we will arrange to have a volunteer pick up surrendered animals in the Onigum area and transport them to Cass Lake.

Winter is here and conditions are harsh for the animals. If you live on Leech Lake Reservation and are aware of strays and litters of puppies or kittens please contact us at leechlakelegacy@gmail.com. Injured animals and puppies and kittens are the most vulnerable and will not survive through the winter.

Leech Lake Legacy Celebration - Sunday, 11/3

We would like to invite all friends, supporters, partners and volunteers to join us for a Leech Lake Legacy Celebration party on Sunday, 11/3 at 1:00 PM. Bring a friends (or two) to come and learn more about Leech Lake Legacy. It has been 2.5 years since we first began our efforts and partnership with the Leech Lake Tribal Police and the Animal Humane Society and our collaborative efforts and partnerships have grown tremendously since we began. Our community has grown and continues to grow :)

We will have a short presentation that will begin at 1:30 pm. Hear more about Leech Lake Legacy ... both present and future! :) We will also take a moment to honor Ahnung (a 'rez' dog), the fire and inspiration behind Leech Lake Legacy, who crossed over to the spirit world on August 25th, 2013. A memorial bench will placed in the incoming area of the Animal Humane Society where her calm, wise, healing energy will greet and guide her rez friends who are arriving on transport from northern Minnesota to begin the next leg of their journey at the Animal Humane Society.

We look forward to seeing you there!

And we will also be having the raffle drawing ... if you would like to purchase some raffle tickets, you may purchase them by contacting Marilou at info@leechlakelegacy.org. We have them available for sale with volunteers at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley and throughout the Twin Cities.

Spay/neuter and vaccination clinic this weekend (Friday, 10/11 and Saturday, 10/12/2013)

We are gearing up for our 4th spay/neuter and wellness clinic for 2013 this coming weekend:

Spay/neuter and wellness/vaccination services will be available at the Leech Lake Tribal Police headquarters in Cass Lake on Friday, 8/11 and Saturday, 8/12. Doors open at 8:00 am (first come, first served).

We will also be hosting a wellness/vaccination clinic in Onigum on Friday, 8/11 from 11:00 am - 3 pm at the Onigum Community Center.

If you have any animals to surrender please come after 10:00 am on Friday or Saturday at the Leech Lake Tribal Police headquarters in Cass Lake, or any time between 11:00 am and 3 pm on Friday at the Onigum Community Center.

A majority of the funding for our clinic was made possible by a generous grant from the ASPCA and additional funding by the City of Cass Lake. We are also extremely grateful to the Leech Lake Tribal Police for partnering with us in hosting these clinics and for providing food and lodging for volunteers.

Miigwech.

Pet Vaccination and Wellness clinic in Onigum (Leech Lake Reservation) on October 11th