The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council met this week to discuss plans for preventing another fatal dog attack like the one that occurred last Saturday. The council’s primary goal was to act with respect toward any dogs on the reservation as well as their owners, and the tribal membership as a whole.
The loss of Julia Charging Whirlwind from a dog attack last weekend has been a blow to the Swift Bird community and the entire Rosebud Sioux Reservation. The long-time counselor at the Spotted Tail Crisis Center was a mother and grandmother as well as a vital member of her tribe.
Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council Representative Wayne Frederick says the goal of the tribal leadership is to act rationally about an incident that has torn at the hearts of many.
“The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is handling this situation in the most respectful manner that we can,” Frederick explains. “It is not a killing spree. We are just trying to get control of the feral dog population.”
As a result of Charging Whirlwind’s death, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council has reaffirmed its animal control ordinances. Rosebud Sioux tribal police and Game, Fish and Park officers have the right to enter communities and attempt to identify feral dogs. If a dog’s owner cannot be located, it will either be taken to an impound location, if healthy and without an owner, or put down, if found to be sick or aggressive.
This process is scheduled to be ongoing for 60 to 90 days
Wayne Frederick advises other reservations to develop ordinances for the benefit and safety of their tribal members, as well as members of the dog and horse nations.
Related stories:
http://listen.sdpb.org/post/woman-killed-rosebud-dog-attack
http://listen.sdpb.org/post/rosebud-council-weighed-contract-dog-issue
http://listen.sdpb.org/post/lakota-woman-killed-rosebud-dog-attack