Operation Kind Heart Navajo reservation dog food drive
On September 12, I had the opportunity to receive a large donation of dog food. I set up a fundraiser to raise the funds to rent a 26-foot Penske truck and the gas needed for the upcoming 517 mile drive. Thankfully, my supporters helped me raise the full amount to do this. I then caught a ride from Kanab, Utah to Henderson, Nevada. I picked up the truck and drove it to the distribution center to load the 10,000 pounds of dog food to go to the Navajo reservation. On Sunday, September 13, I drove the truck to Shiprock New Mexico. When I arrived at 12:55 p.m., there were already lines of people waiting since 10 a.m. My heart was full, knowing how many reservation dogs I could help feed with this large donation. Within 45 minutes we had handed out all the dog food.
Left to right, photos courtesy of Operation Kind Heart:
Justyne Moore, Operation Kind Heart, Larry Erdman, Let The Fur Fly.
L - R: Chantal Wadsworth, RezRoads Rescue, Justyne Moore, Vern Kee, RezRoads Rescue.
I had collaborated with RezRoads Rescue founders, Chantal and Vern, who are an amazing duo that go above and beyond to help the reservation dogs. We set up the dog food drive at the local chapter house. Chantal and Vern were right there unloading and handing out the dog food. Another friend of Operation Kind Heart, Dwayne, also jumped right in to help hand out the dog food. We loaded his truck up with bags of dog food to hand out to the elders at the senior center. On his way back home, he stopped and fed a few strays at the gas station.
Operation Kind Heart is focusing our efforts on spay and neuter surgeries, and vaccine sponsorships for reservation dogs. Operation Kind Heart will also be involved with transport and dog food distribution to the Navajo reservation. This was our first dog food drive, and it won’t be our last. Vice president of Operation Kind Heart, Micheal T. Wells has 30+ years in the heavy haul trucking industry and was instrumental in setting up the Penske truck rental and the logistics of the transport. I had never driven a 26-foot moving truck, but there’s a first time for everything.
After the food drive, I was able to hitch a ride back to Kanab with my pilot friend, Larry Erdman, who has a nonprofit, Let The Fur Fly. Larry has transported many momma dogs and their puppies for Operation Kind Heart to various rescues. He was transporting seven puppies to their intake rescue on Sunday, so my timing was perfect.
A huge thank you to Badlands Ranch Pets, Furgotten Friends Dog Rescue and Paw Partners Unleashed for this incredible donation to Operation Kind Heart.
If you would like to stay updated on Operation Kind Heart’s ongoing heart work on the Navajo reservation, visit our website at operationkindheart.org. Operation Kind Heart relies on donations to continue to help the reservation dogs. Operation Kind Heart is a nonprofit so your donations are tax deductible. You can send a donation by check to Justyne Moore/Operation Kind Heart, PO Box 103, Kanab, Utah 84741. Another way to help is by sponsoring an Operation Kind Heart sanctuary dog at operationkindheart.org/sponsor-a-rez-dog.
The stars line up when you follow your heart. Thank you for your ongoing support.
