Posted on September 07, 2009 by: WayCoolDogs

• Tweet

Every dog at shelters over the world should have a Rescue Waggin’ coming to their doors, especially shelters who believe in euthanizing dogs and other pets who stay too long in their shelters. With overcrowding of dogs and pets forcing some shelters to euthanize the older or vicious animals  without any effort at rehabilitation, adequate care and quality training, the Los Angeles Times recently ran an article, “Shelter dogs travel in style in the Rescue Waggin’ to find new homes”, about the Rescue Waggin’ which is nothing short of a miracle for a majority of shelter dogs today.

Image courtesy of Rescue Waggin’.

*

*

ITS CHRISTMAS WHEN THE RESCUE WAGGIN’  COMES

Washington, D.C.’s Rescue Waggin‘ is a program of PetSmart Charities, moving more than 29,000 dogs since 2004 from communities known to have high-euthanasia rates to communities which have high-adoption rates. So far, their trucks have transported dogs from 53 shelters to 24 states, which is including a new route serving Mississippi, Louisiana, southern Tennesse, and Arkansas.

The latest statistics show that six to eight million pets will enter shelters this year, with three to four million of that amount being euthanized only because they are homeless. There are regions in the United States with regions that put down as many as 85% of their animals without looking for alternative ways to save their lives.

HOW THE RESCUE WAGGIN’ OPERATES

The Rescue Waggin’ program was created by PetSmart Charities to help save the lives of homeless dogs and puppies through partnership and collaboration with local animal welfare agencies. The program also works to proactively reduce pet overpopulation in those areas of the country that need the most help.

An innovative animal welfare program, the Rescue Waggin’ is comprised of three parts:

• A pet transport program that transports dogs from areas of high pet overpopulation (where they face almost certain euthanasia) to shelters in areas where adoptable dogs are in demand. This program operates under professionally-developed industry standards for originating and receiving shelters, spay/neuter and animal health practices, and humane transport.

• Funding to expand spay/neuter services for cats and dogs in source areas.

• Funding and professional consultation to improve shelter facilities and operations for participating animal welfare agencies.

With generous support from their corporate program sponsor PEDIGREE® Brand, the Rescue Waggin’ has helped save the lives of more than 29,000 dogs since it began operations in 2004. The program currently operates vehicles in the Midwest, Northeast, South Central and Great Plains regions of the United States.

The Rescue Waggin' trucks are state of the art.

TRAVELING IN STYLE

According to the LA Times, “the pups travel in style: Specially designed trucks have air conditioning, piped-in music and video cameras so the dogs can be monitored in transit. The policy is not to transport animals more than 10 hours at a stretch, so the organization has just built a halfway kennel for overnight breaks to make longer trips a possibility.

When the dogs are led into their temporary home at the Washington Animal Rescue League, there’s a full service hospital, a behavior department and a beautiful cageless shelter facility where a soothing fountain cascades over glass ceilings that let in natural light.

“We work on their physical, mental and social rehabilitation and transition them to new homes,” says the league’s director, Dr. Gary Weitzman.

WHY THE PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS

Most small town shelters are operated through volunteer efforts such as posting animals on Petfinder.com and transporting small groups of puppies to other shelters helped get one shelter’s  euthanasia rate down to 15-20 percent. Now, with Rescue Waggin’, it’s under 2 percent. The program also does more than move animals around, with support services to help shelters improve the situation closer to home.

Most important, participating shelters are now able to offer low-cost spay and neuter services one day per week to the community and shelter animals. For the shelters, the effects go far beyond the visible ones.

“The thing that has changed so much is the more positive outlook,” the director of one shelter reports. Now that they no longer euthanize so many animals, quite a bit of volunteering and donations are up and staff turnover is at an all-time low, with positive results for all the animals…whether they leave on the Rescue Waggin’ or not!

*************************************

~ Support PetSmart and Pedigree with your pet shopping and donations! ~

* * * * *

For more dog health info, dog stories and fun stuff, subscribe to our newsletter here!

* * * * *

(Sponsored)

Related posts:

• California’s Ventura County Animal Shelter Needs Help
• Shelter dogs supported by U.S. Postal Service stamps
• Inspiring Animal Rescue Stories
• Q & A: How can my abused rescue dog become house-trained?
• Pedigree Foundation Increases Dog Adoptions