There is an excess of homeless dogs in Fremont County and on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Local shelters are trying to keep up with demand, but one group is helping ease the burden.
Yola's Pet Rescue is a small group of volunteers who meet at least once a month to deliver pet food and supplies from Cheyenne to pet owners on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The rescue said they have rehomed 200 dogs since September of last year.
Janet Marschner,the founder of the group, drives from Cheyenne to help transport homeless dogs to potential forever homes along the way. Marschner said that, in 2016, she noticed not a lot of people could take in homeless puppies.
"I mean there are excess puppies, and they are a lot of work and you have to watch for disease, and you have t o quarantine them," Marschner said. "And they are not as easy as taking an adult dog."
Marschner said the dogs are finding good homes and that is a rare positive aspect of the pandemic.
"So, this fall we rescued a puppy that had a broken pelvis and one that had a broken leg. And they have been adopted," Marschner said. "Adoptions have been really good. If there is one good thing that came out of it."
Local volunteers from veterinary offices help the rescue dogs get emergency medical attention and spay and neuter assistance.
