Policy Proposal for New Animal Welfare Act “Mako’s Law” for Navajo Reservation Stray dogs & Animals Initiative

Background

Hello! Yaat'eeh! My name is Kelly Dejesus and I am a Doctoral student from the Navajo Nation (Shonto, Arizona). Although I no longer reside there due to Academics and my husband's military career, I still resume animal networking and participated in rescue activities during my husband's previous deployments. I operate two pages: Mako's Navajo Nation Pet Page and Lost and Found Pets of the Navajo Nation which networks lost and found animals, and stray animals in need while providing awareness on microchipping, spay/neuter, vaccinations, responsible pet ownership, stolen/missing animals, etc. I began this journey when my Emotional Support Animal was stolen in 2018 and continue to advocate/ aid Animals on the Navajo Reservation and beyond. The stray, abandoned and neglected dogs on the reservation is a constant and cyclical issue where the burden and pain is felt by many especially since funding was cut and was never re-instated. The initiative to start has failed many times but due to the life lost of a 14 year old girl in Fort Defiance, Az as a result of 20 pack dogs raises the urgency for change. I am asking for support and signatures to petition the Navajo Nation Office of the President to look into this matter. Emails and letters will be sent and below is a portion of the petition without the (7) provisions of policy that is in the original document.

Executive Summary

In reference to the Navajo Times Article, “Girl possibly killed by dogs in Fort Defiance”, the article is the latest on victim 13-year-old Alyssa Upshaw, and the result of pack dogs and poor pet responsibility and its contribution to deaths by dog attacks, and its impact on local communities and livestock. There have been five other human deaths from roaming dogs since 2011 with the youngest victim being four-years old, and several livestock mauling’s which have gone unreported, one of which was publicly reported in the Navajo Times indicating that 15 of 29 sheep were mauled by pack dogs in Hard Rock, Arizona. The issue highlights the negative impacts of lack-of funding, abuse, neglect, and the cycle of inhumane euthanasia that Navajo Nation stray dogs face and its persistent issue on local, surrounding communities and livestock. The continued prevalence could very well be considered an endemic and a vector for associated Public Health Risks, disease, and death.

Policy Proposal Objective

The policy I am proposing under the name Mako’s Law seeks to adopt New Animal Welfare measures to protect stray, confiscated or abandoned dogs (other animals not exempt), their welfare and keep our communities safe. This also includes the adoption of new perspectives of dogs in our indigenous culture by the inclusion of living in harmony through the treatment of our animals as sentient beings that are deserving of humane treatment, value, and encouraging policies that are in consideration of their emotions, needs, and suffering.

Proposed Solutions

Under Mako’s Law ( Animal Welfare Act) proposed solutions would be to increase funding, increase animal control officers, increase spay/ neuter programs, increase microchipping, increase mobile vaccinations at chapter houses, encourage animal fostering, incorporate the adoption of leash laws, encourage animal enclosures or shaded dog runs that house adequate shelters, introduce new humane shelters to the NN, banning breeding and selling of pets, enforcing number of dogs per household, promoting cultural and pet inclusion under cultural Harmony, enforce NHA guidelines regarding pets, allow neighboring rescues to rescue abandoned or stray animals without fear of reprisal, banning pets left unattended in vehicles during hot or freezing temps and encourage responsible pet ownership and overall animal welfare. The adoption of the Provisions (1-7) are in the original document sent to the office of the Navajo Nation President, which merely highlight adoptable policies in overall animal welfare and mitigating Public Health Risks.