News
On the Road to New Homes
August 10, 2007, 10:53AM MT
By Jennifer S Hayes
Fate smiled on some Central Texas dogs who are now on their way to homes and rescue in Chehalis, Washington.
Fate smiled on some Central Texas dogs who are now on their way to homes and rescue in Chehalis, Washington.
By Jennifer Hayes: Best Friends Network
Who would have thought that a chance meeting while rescuing dogs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina could save 25 Texas dogs almost two years later?
That is what has happened after Prima Mosi of P.A.W.S. of Austin (Protection of Animal Welfare Services) traveled to help with the hurricane rescue efforts and met Patty Kaija, President of Friends of the Lewis County Animal Shelter. The two women recently reconnected and now dogs’ lives are being saved thanks to Pets Across USA, an innovative program to transport small Texas dogs and litters of puppies to the West Coast, where there are waiting lists for such canines.
Due to the overwhelming numbers of animals entering the Austin and San Antonio area shelters, according to Mosi, “There are so many, only the best of the best get homes.” Dogs who have minor health or behavioral issues, or are too young, are not even given the chance to be adopted. Those are the animals that Mosi is taking for transport to Washington with Pets Across USA. Mosi states, “We don’t need to wait for a tornado or hurricane. The disaster happens every day. It breaks our hearts when we can’t save them all.”
The local community has rallied in its support for Pets Across USA. Says Mosi, it is the “small donations that are making it happen.” Children have helped by canvassing neighborhoods for donations and giving their own allowances to help fund the transport. Within two days of posting a wish list online, P.A.W.S. received all the supplies necessary for their initial trip, including paper towels, collars and dog beds. Additional donations will either be used for the next transport or will be given to another area rescue in need. Money collected so far has gone toward spay and neuter surgeries, treating minor illnesses such as ringworm or eye infections, and for heartworm tests, which were mandatory for all the dogs in order to prevent bringing positive dogs to an area of the country without that disease. However, financial support is still needed to help pay for the enormous gasoline bill they anticipate.
P.A.W.S. hosted a meet-and-greet the Saturday prior to departure, so that new foster families could meet and claim their temporary canine residents. It was a joyous occasion, with many smiles and wagging tails. A very special cake was donated for the event, highlighting a frosting photo of the bus with the message, “Bon voyage, forever families here we come.” There was live music, a silent auction to raise transport funds, and attendees got to choose the animals they wished to help for the next week.
The bus left Austin at 8:15 this morning and is now carrying its precious cargo to the future site of the Almost Home adoption center in Chehalis, Washington. The bus is scheduled to arrive at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13, where in addition to a media blitz, many of the people who have already submitted adoption applications and deposits will be waiting to bring home their newest family members.
Eve Burnett is one of the volunteers on board the bus taking care of the dogs along the way. Burnett says, “It means a lot to a lot of people, especially to the dogs.” She knows this first hand after fostering Petunia and Daisy for the past week. Both dogs were pulled from a San Antonio shelter only one day before they were scheduled to be euthanized and Eve personally picked about 30 ticks off of Petunia alone. She knows that they will be going to a better place, where they will be given loving homes. In fact, Daisy has already been adopted and Burnett is sure that Petunia will not be far behind.
The main goal of this transport is to save animals’ lives, but they are also filming the event, to be used in the creation of a documentary. Mosi hopes that distribution of the film will educate the public about pet overpopulation and encourages people in other communities to become proactive on behalf of animals. She says, “We also want to show people that as a community, we can make a difference.”
See another instance where a Transport Saves Lives between Las Angeles and Salt Lake City.
For more information:
• Pets Across USA website
• Friends of Lewis County Animal Shelter
• Photos and descriptions of the dogs being transported
• Chronline.com: Rescuers Applauded for Win-Win Actions for Small-Breed Dogs
• News 8 Austin: Rescue dogs get a second chance in Seattle
How you can help:
• Make a monetary donation to P.A.W.S. of Austin, to help cover the gas and travel costs.
• Additional items, such as wire crates, towels, small collars, leashes, and more can be donated for future trips.
• Offer to foster puppies or small dogs to assist with this program, or to help shelters and rescues in your own areas.
• Adopt shelter or rescue animals, instead of buying from pet stores or breeders, to save animals locally.
• While P.A.W.S. has many people volunteering to help create the documentary, additional expertise is needed, as are funds to help finance the project. If you would like to help or sponsor the film, please contact Prima Mosi at petsacrossusa@yahoo.com.
Photos: taken by Jennifer Hayes.
Lead Photo: Primi Mosi, Director of P.A.W.S. of Austin, holding some of the puppies to be transported to Washington.
Photo #2: Mary, one of the lucky puppies, on her way to a new home.
Photo #3: Emily Ripley, who collected around $60 to help pay for the transport, along with Prima Mosi and Fiona.
Photo #4: Susan and Bern Abplanalp with their new foster pups, yet to be named.
Photo #5: Eve Burnett, holding Daisy and with Petunia in her lap, are all ready to make the trip to Washington together.
Photo #6: The transport team in front of the bus, moments prior to leaving on their journey.