Club makes difference by vaccinating strays

Melissa Aughe pets her dog Molly in the Chinle High School barn Saturday. Aughe found Molly scavenging roadkill and rescued her, then brought her to the Save Our Strays free shot clinic at the high school so she could get used to people and get some shots. Save Our Strays will be giving free shots at the Chinle High School barn again on April 23. (Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent)

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

CHINLE — A few hounds may have howled a little after their shots, but thanks to the Chinle Junior High School Save Our Strays Club, at least they are protected from more serious illnesses.

The club, known as the SOS club, landed itself a few accolades from USA Weekend after 20 volunteers vaccinated more than 150 dogs against Parvo and Distemper during the magazine's annual "Make A Difference Day" last October.

Make A Difference Day was started by the magazine, in conjunction with the Points of Light Foundation, 14 years ago to encourage people to think of others. Paul Newman awards $10,000 to 10 different groups annually.

The SOS club was named as one of 503 outstanding organizations.

Elaina Rooper, 14, is president of the club and said this was the group's first venture as a club.

Her club decided to do something "mostly because of all the stray animals around here."

Parvo and Distemper are believed to be leading killers of dogs on the reservation. Vaccinating all dogs becomes daunting as many are strays.

With local donations, the SOS Club offered cost-free vaccinations to area pets.

Linda Broadley, the club's sponsor, said a member of the school board gave $500 towards the project.

"It's nice to see the response," Broadley said. "Everyone realizes how important it is."

On Saturday, the club hosted another cost-free vaccination blitz, but because the turn-out was so large and vaccinations limited, late-comers received information on pet health instead.

"Our big dream is we'd like to get a little shelter started," Broadley said. "We'd like a place to keep dogs so people can come and see what we have."

They may have help.

Lynn Greyeagle, and her 16-year old daughter, Adrienne, have offered to donate some land for that very purpose.

"The shelter is working around her dream," Greyeagle said of her daughter, who wants to become a veterinarian. "It's exciting. I've always grown up around animals."

Last year, the club took a one-day field trip to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

The group plans to go again and has since been fundraising for both its upcoming field trip and more shots.

On the Net: http://www.makeadifferenceday.com

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey, call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com