SmammalRanch Rez Dog Fund & Rescue

What Are Rez Dogs: Short for Reservation dog, is a term used to refer to any number of loose (usually stray) dogs roaming the Indian Reservations of Arizona. They can not be identified as any one breed; many appear to be a mix of Labrador Retriever, German shepherd, Sighthound, and occasionally, wolf and coyote hybrids can occur as well. They are often exceptional hunters and, when taken into a home, can be very good watchdogs and usually are very intelligent and free of most genetic diseases that are found in pure-breeds. While many roam in packs, keeping a safe distance from humans, others are solitary and very friendly. These are generally either puppies or dogs that had been accustomed to human companionship at some point. The vast majority of rez dogs are un-owned, and of the portion that belong to people, many only come home to eat and sleep, often never setting foot in a house. While many people in urban areas tend to think of their dogs as their children, and spend the money to prove it, many people on the "Rez" think of their dogs as dogs. As a result, those animals that do go to the vet go less often than urban dogs, and many never go. This is also because towns are small and far apart from each other, so veterinarians are few and very far between. This means a significant portion of rez dogs are intact, leading to a constant replenishment of the population. SmammalRanch Rez Dog Fund & Rescue is here to educate the general public on the needs of these dogs and to raise funding to help the sterilize and re-release efforts of feral dogs by local groups and to find loving homes for the lucky few.....