Many people in Teller County consider their pets part of the family, but not all pets get an equal start in life.

Regional shelters like TCRAS and the Colorado Springs Humane Society do a great job of taking in and rehoming companion animals. But shelters are often limited by space and geography.

In very remote areas, communities often struggle to contend with populations of unwanted pets. Answering the call for help, groups of animal activists create networks of volunteers who give hope to homeless pets. Some of these networks are breed specific, others are not.

Meet your Teller County neighbor, Christine Bowie. A member of the Navajo Nation, she grew up in Gallop, N.M., and at an early age became an advocate for abandoned animals.

“As a child in Gallop, there were a lot of people who could barely afford basic necessities,” she said. “They would do their best to take care of the animals they had, but often these were dumped dogs and cats that just showed up at their doorstep. It was a rough life for them, and often a short one.”

At 14, Bowie became enamored with a stray she named Tyson. Already working, she used her money to provide food and shelter for the dog, but when she moved away, her mother informed her that the dog had been struck by a car and killed.

Heartbroken by the turn of events, she began volunteering at the local humane society, and in 2017 learned about RezDawg Rescue through a Facebook connection.

“RezDawg Rescue spoke to my heart,” she said. “I felt called to help the animals that I grew up with, and I was hooked.”

RDR has no physical shelter and is run by a well-organized team of volunteers. Coming from Indigenous communities with little or no resources for companion animals or strays, pets rescued from tribal nations go to foster homes throughout the state of Colorado. Foster families spend about a month learning each foster’s needs and RDR makes sure they are vetted and healthy before searching for the perfect forever home.

“Reservation dogs are strong dogs. They’re great mountain dogs,” said Bowie.

However, RDR isn’t just about removing pets from reservations. They also organize mobile clinics to provide essential healthcare and spay/neuter services to keep pet populations in those communities healthy and in check.

Currently RDR has over 175 pets in foster homes, and last year they rescued and rehomed over 800 while also providing healthcare to pets in underserved communities. As an organization whose reach is throughout Colorado and into New Mexico and Arizona, RDR is always in need of donations and volunteers, not just long-term fosters, but short-term fosters, those who transport dogs and cats, and organizers to help with fundraising events like the annual Pawliday Auction.

“Donations are always helpful,” said Bowie. “Some of the animals that come in require medical care that can add up quickly. But foster homes are huge—it’s the best and most rewarding way someone can help. I’m often asked if it’s hard to give up a foster when an adopter comes along, but I live by the advice I was given by one of my foster mentors. You find a home for that pet who did not have a chance in life, and then you open a space for another and continue the cycle of second chances.”

To volunteer, donate or adopt, visit RezDawgRescue.org.