I’ve worked near Rez’s and the dogs overpopulation ARE a real problem. But why are they a problem? Because the residents have absolutely no respect for the life of a dog, or what that dog’s purpose is.
Maybe if they didn’t breed dogs to no end, there wouldn’t be such a terrible situation in which dogs are fighting, attacking, and running amok.
Not to mention, I’ve seen the way alot, ALOT of families on reservations treat their dogs. Like they’re nothing more than a nussance. Ive seen physical abuse, neglect, etc. and its ALL extremely unnecessary.
Im SICKENED by the way the ‘animal control’ guys were treating the strays they were collecting. The dogs didnt ask to be put in that shithole of a situation. Remember who brought them in there? the Navajo community. So maybe you should chase THEM down and hook THEM around the neck and mistreat them and throw THEM in cages with multiple others to instigate fighting in an already scary situation. I hate seeing dogs abused like this. These people should change their cultural ways to include these dogs in their ETHICAL THINKING because it makes me absolutely disgusted, seeing this documentary.
“they’re to be respected” ---> I never saw any respect in this documentary. I want to have a meeting with these animal control people. Its funny how ANYONE can wear a badge, even if they dont respect what they’re doing.

~Sincerely,
Appalled & sickened.

I live about 45 miles from Keyenta on the Rez.. the dogs are a real problem.. I have personally broken up 3 dog fights over the last 3 days… I live in a really small community and I am often scared to walk because of all the loose dogs..The dogs that people “have as pets” are so badly treated. They often have no food, water or shelter… I often see female dogs raped over and over while it is tied up and can’t get away. Puppies are tied in with baling wire.. I once asked a lady why she didn’t have her dog neutered.. her answer was because the dog would not bark and protect her home any more.. I just laughed… education is what is needed here on the rez for pet owners....education is the key.

I am so very glad to see this documentary. I found it on CraigsList. I have now rescued two “rez dogs”. My recent rescue is terrified of diesel trucks.Now I think I know why.

I am so very, very grateful for the BlackHat rescue organization for fostering my puppy. I forgot what kind of life she could have had. She has clearly had one litter or maybe more. I wonder what happened to her pups. I wonder if she thinks about that in her wounded heart.

Please, please, please, spay and neuter your animals! I think this is the number one way to work on the problem of rez dogs taking over. I did not realize that it was Navajo Nation law to have all puppies spayed and neutered before adoption. I wonder how many Navajos know that.

I know there are cultural differences in how we all see our animals. I hope we can all learn to pool our resources and our hearts and work together.

I am so grateful for my rez dogs. I often wonder what their lives were like before they came to me, and I feel sadness. And I also feel grateful that they are survivors, because they have blessed me many times over.

I don’t really like the way the animal control guys handled the animals. I understand that they were trying to get the job done quickly, but they were a little rough loading some of those dogs into the truck and it bothered me how they put multiple dogs into one cage, enabling them to attack each other.

Well put!!! Just because you live in poverty doesn’t mean you have to mistreat your animals.  Take care of them and have them fixed so they do not reproduce all over the place.  It breaks my heart to see dead dogs on the road and starving dogs in the parking lots.

Why quote “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” (Mahatma Gandhi) when we have the creation story?

How did the U.S. government treat the 1,000 Indigenous people of the America’s? Can’t we say to them & the producers of this documentary: “The greatness of the U.S. Nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it has treated the Indigenous people of this land”

Who is to judge? Why is this quote used to have the non-indigenous people quick to “judge”? Is this not the way to think and be?

Very well put together Documentary. I enjoyed all of the close up shots, which gave me the viewer a real feel for the movie.

The overpopulation of dogs is everywhere. All humans everywhere can use a lot more education regarding animal care. It is sad that the animals are the ones that have to suffer due to human ignorance.
We can start by teaching our children in school to respect animals and by making domestic animal care a requirement. It is all very simple, but humans continuously fail to put the energy into it.
God bless our animals everywhere.

When you have lived in poverty your whole life and were taken from your home at an earlier age to be “taught” english ways, you wouldn’t come out so great. So don’t judge so harshly till you have lived their life. And nothing comes out from passing judgement, try helping rather than complaining.

Thank you for this documentary.  I have 3 rez dogs - all my own rescues.

I like that the documentary shows how complex an issue this is - culturally, socially and logistically. 

I’m interested to hear if there have been any further developments since the film was made. 

Thank you again.

Wow, Skyler is such a compassionate person.  “He’d go out of his way to hit a dog with his car”.  Truly heartwarming.  No wonder their culture isn’t prospering with attitudes like that.  Uh, why not learn to spay and neuter your animals people?  And if they’re attacking your sheep because they’re starving maybe it’s because you need to control the dog population.  How about that?  Spay and neuter people - it’s cheaper and less traumatic for the community than the other courses of action.  Duh!  Stupid humans as usual!

Wow that kid Skyler is such a compassionate person.  ‘He’d go out of his way to hit a dog with his car’ It’s no wonder their culture isn’t thriving with that kind of attitude.

What these people need is to learn is to spay and neuter their animals!  Duh!  Stupid humans.

What these people need is to learn to spay and neuter their animals!  Duh!!!  Stupid humans!

Thank you.  I hope your film makes a difference.  I have just moved to Farmington, NM and locals tell me the problem is as bad as ever.  I can only find hope in our creator, Jehovah.

i’m from shiprock and yes, the dogs are gettin to be a problem. what shiprock needs is a animal shelter.