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Thursday, October 24, 2024
PUPPY POWER—Thirteen-year-old Daniel Green first became attached to dogs several years ago during a family visit to the Navajo Reservation New Mexico. Courtesy photos
Daniel Green is an avid dog lover, and for his bar mitzvah in the Jewish faith the 13-year-old from Agoura Hills has been devoting time and effort to assist the Crowntown Animal House nonprofit rescue near Crownpoint, New Mexico.
Daniel will celebrate his bar mitzvah Oct. 26 at Temple Adat Eloim in Thousand Oaks.
During a family visit to the Navajo Reservation New Mexico several years ago, Daniel, who is half-Navajo, learned that he wanted to do something to help the abandoned dogs that are frequently found there.
“Navajo Nation has numerous dogs that wander around towns, some of them have homes, but unfortunately, many do not,” Daniel’s mother, Eva Larson, told The Acorn. “There are also those who have homes but are not well cared for.”
At the reservation, Daniel became acquainted with and attached to a dog named Biscuit who was abandoned. His love for dogs was sealed.
Last spring he returned to the reservation to begin his mitzvah project, which he named Rez Dog rescue. He volunteered at the Crowntown rescue center.
HELPING HANDS—During his first visit to the Crowntown Animal House nonprofit in December 2021, Daniel and his brother Ellis offered their services.
HELPING HANDS—During his first visit to the Crowntown Animal House nonprofit in December 2021, Daniel and his brother Ellis offered their services.
Crowntown is headed by Cynthia Dayish, who entered the world of animal rescue as a volunteer at a local spray and neuter organization. By 2015, Dayish was providing care for the local community of Crownpoint with food, straw (for warmth during the cold months), portable doghouses, and access to spay and neutering services. She has helped rescue dogs that were abandoned in the surrounding towns and canyons of the Eastern Agency of the Navajo Nation (New Mexico, north of Interstate 40).
Crowntown Animal House has no staff and only a handful of volunteers. Dayish runs the rescue, but she also has a full-time job.
Daniel, currently a student at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas, wanted to help. During his first visit to Crowntown in December 2021, Daniel and his brother Ellis helped rescue a badly neglected and emaciated mama dog and her four small puppies. All were taken in by Crowntown and were healed and new homes were found for them. During a second visit in 2022, Daniel and Ellis offered their services at a vaccine clinic that provided parvo and rabies shots for dogs and cats. They also helped take care of nine newly arrived puppies.
“There are still many costs to cover, such as fencing, special diets, straw, and gasoline for the transport vehicles,” Larson said.
Crowntown Animal House is a registered nonprofit, and as part of Daniel’s mitzvah project, Rez Dog Rescue, he is asking for donations to Crowntown. Checks can be made payable to: Crowntown Animal House, c/o Daniel Green 5711 Carell Ave., Agoura Hills, 91301. (The Acorn has verified this charity.)
LABOR OF LOVE—Last spring, Daniel returned to the reservation to begin his mitzvah project as a volunteer at the Crowntown rescue center.
LABOR OF LOVE—Last spring, Daniel returned to the reservation to begin his mitzvah project as a volunteer at the Crowntown rescue center.
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