Photo Exhibit: Rez Dog Biographies by Steven Sable

There are too many dogs on the Navajo, Ute, and Hopi reservations.  Too many of them are suffering.  The scenery and culture on display in the Four Corners region is among the most unique and beautiful in the world.  Unfortunately, the moment you step out of your car at one of the many points of interest, you’ll probably encounter what are known locally as “Rez Dogs.”

They’re the descendants of pets and working dogs and they’re likely starving and desperate for a handout.  Some of these animals survive by begging from tourists.  Others live on road kill and whatever plants and insects they can harvest from the desert.  Too many don’t survive at all.

The “Rez Dog Biographies” photo project, by Steven Sable, exists to help alleviate their suffering.  This is best accomplished by supporting those individuals and organizations who work directly with the Navajo, Utes, and Hopis on the front lines – transporting strays to Denver for adoption, cleaning cages during spay/neuter clinics, offering rides (over great distances) to people who otherwise would not be able to get their pets to qualified veterinarians.

Beginning October 22, 2009, images from the “Rez Dog Biographies” will be on display at Maria’s Bookshop.  This exhibition is intended to accomplish two goals: 

1)     To help spread the word that there are organizations working to solve this problem who need your support

2)     To publicize a larger exhibition/fundraiser being held at the Open Shutter Gallery on Thursday, October 29.  Both the Open Shutter Gallery and Steven Sable will be contributing proceeds to For Pets’ Sake – a nonprofit from Cortez, Colorado that focuses specifically on the Rez Dog situation on the Ute reservation.  These donations have been earmarked to finance the spay/neuter clinics that were cancelled due to a lack of funds.

About the Photographer:

Steven Sable adopted his Rez Dog off Highway 89 about eight miles South of Page, AZ.  She (now named Page) exhibited a number of behaviors that set her apart from other dogs.  She has a quivering fear of wind and rain, an uncanny ability to hunt and eat bees off a Rosemary bush (without getting stung), and other uncommon abilities that enabled her to survive as a semi-feral dog in a dangerously austere environment.  The question “How did this dog survive?” lead Steve to investigate the Rez Dog issue and the ongoing photo project “Rez Dog Biographies” is the result.