Home » News » Pup My Ride: Shuttle Service for Small Dogs Leads to New Homes...

News

Pup My Ride: Shuttle Service for Small Dogs Leads to New Homes

August 11, 2008, 7:40PM MT

By Sandi Cain

Semi-Monthly Effort with Humane Society of Utah Fills Need in Salt Lake City

Semi-Monthly Effort with Humane Society of Utah Fills Need in Salt Lake City

By Gayle Alexander and Sandi Cain, Best Friends Network volunteers

One city is overflowing with little doggies. Another has more demand for small-size pooches than there are available in the shelters. What is the solution? Take the dogs to the people who want them!

This is the mission of the newly instituted Pup My Ride, a special transport between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City that runs about every two weeks. The dogs get VIP service between their shelters or foster homes to Kanab, courtesy of Best Friends Programs volunteers and staff. They’re met in Kanab by the Humane Society of Utah, which gets them all spiffed up before placing them in new homes where families await with open arms.

So far, over 200 dogs have been taken to Salt Lake City. LA Programs coordinator Robin Harmon makes most of the arrangements. There are plans to expand this into a national program, available in different regions, and operated under Beth Mersten Outreach.

Sometimes the return trip involves dropping off Utah dogs at various rescues or transfer points for those pups who are continuing their journeys to more distant new homes.

This should be a piece of cake, right? Pack up the dogs, drive, unload, and repeat.

Not exactly; remember, these are needy little critters who may not be too excited about this long journey by car.

A (long) day in the life of a transporter

Co-author Gayle Alexander went along on a recent ride, which went something like this:

5:30 a.m.: Destination - Kanab, then Salt Lake City! Have we got everything? Crates for everyone, towels so all passengers are comfy, Rescue Remedy, water? Yup, it’s all there and off we go.

The first stop is on the OTHER side of town, through commuter traffic, to pick up nine dogs in boarding. Let’s hope everyone is organized and ready for loading. Not bad, only an hour to get them all cuddled, pottied and into the van.

7:30 a.m.: Ah yes, the traffic. But now we’re off to Baldwin Park to pick up 16 more little guys. Robin’s got her paperwork in order, an employee in tow and we’re ready to load! We organize crates as we go; two Chihuahuas in that big crate, this little nippy guy in one of his own, and two puppies can play together to tire each other out. Wow, that one really needs to be groomed; put him in the back.

Just before noon: Okay, everyone’s in, the crates are secured, and we’re ready to go. You in the back, no more whining! We’re only 10 minutes into the trip and someone already isn’t happy. Now we’re an hour into the trip and he’s still at it. A quick stop to give a little more Rescue Remedy and make sure he’s not stressed. All is good.

Ok, ok, enough of the whining, we have a long trip ahead. At another stop we try a cover on that crate. We’re not even to Barstow yet! The cover worked and all is quiet - for now. Oops, the cover fell off; we’re going to need to try again.

You in the big crate, please stop trying to fight with the guy in the crate next to you. Really, you can’t reach him. Sigh, we’ll try a cover at the next stop.

Ahhhh, everyone is quiet, we’re nearing Las Vegas, and…what? Traffic is stopping. Let’s see if we can get a traffic report. Uh-oh, a truck accident and fuel spill on I-15 with a seven-mile back up. It takes us an hour to get past the site.

We’re nearly four hours into the trip and it seems like we’re off to a slow start. We make good time following the traffic delay and our next stop is St. George, Utah for gas. We check in with Utah Humane Society so they can estimate our arrival time.

This Arizona road is dark tonight, and we’re watching for mule deer. We only see an occasional car and the road is only two lanes. It’s a little slower traveling than we’re used to.

11:00 p.m.: Arrival! We meet Jessica from HSU and she’s ready for us. Her van is open, there are water bowls in the grass and baggies ready for those nasty clean-ups. Everyone is noisy and anxious to get out. You can just hear them, “Me, me, me first!” One at a time and all 25 dogs get a little walk, drink, potty and then back into a crate in the other van. Everyone gets a separate crate. Less than an hour and they’re off on the last leg of their trip.

In the next couple of days they’ll all be checked, bathed and ready for adoption. Within two weeks almost all of them will be in new homes, running with children and sleeping on the sofa; a life they had only dreamed about while in the shelter. It makes it all worthwhile.

How You Can Help:

Anyone interested in helping with the Pup My Ride transports should contact Robin at robinh@bestfriends.org.

Assistance might include any of the following:
• Picking up one or more dogs from a local shelter and fostering it overnight before departure.
• Picking up one or more dogs and taking them to someone else for the night.
• Helping to load dogs and supplies the morning of the transport.
• Driving the transport (a good driving record and car insurance is required).

For more about transporting in your area, please see the Movin’ On Transport and Rescue group.

Photo courtesy of Rilee Fagan

Comments

Posted May 08, 2009, 5:19PM by rlynns66

I have done the transport twice now, what an amazing experience.It's nice knowing that these little guy's are going to have homes when you drop them off.
I would recommend volunteering for it, it's an experience that will stay with you forever.

Posted May 08, 2009, 5:20PM by rlynns66

Posted May 08, 2009, 5:19PM by rlynns66

Posted March 06, 2009, 1:17PM by tina_o

This is a great program. Do you drive to San Diego also? I know two people that have recently bought (ugh) Yorkie's and I think that if they knew of your program they might have adopted instead.

Posted August 16, 2008, 12:27PM by marys

Love this. Great work, Robin, and all you wonderful volunteers along the way!

Posted August 13, 2008, 8:37PM by celeste

What a great program! Way to save lives!

Posted August 21, 2008, 2:18PM by beth4pets

I think this is a great idea and it will save many many lives! Way to Go. Best Friends is just amazing!!!!

Posted August 18, 2008, 11:36AM by JAk

Great great great!!!!!!! What a awesome program this is... I can't give you all enough praise..
God Bless you all for the work you do.. its all about making a difference!!
Keep up the good work!!!!!!!
J