Monday, June 14, 2010

American refugees

There is a good article in The Globe and Mail which mentions Open Arms Pound Rescue, one of the rescues Toronto Animal Services South often takes dogs from to adopt out here, Changing the world – one dog (or cat) at a time :

A new kind of underground railroad is shepherding dogs and cats rescued from U.S. shelters to safety – and new families – in Canada.

Every weekend, volunteer drivers load up their cars with furry refugees and cross the border, sometimes following the very same routes that once guided runaway slaves to freedom. Each driver handles a roughly hour-long leg, rendezvousing and transferring animals in parking lots and rest stops until they reach their destination.

One such network, Open Arms Pound Rescue, has moved an estimated 2,000 dogs (and a few cats) from shelters in the South and Midwest since it started in 2007. Co-founder Lucy Moye, based in Michigan, was working with a high-kill shelter in Ohio when she realized she could save a lot more dogs if she could match them with adoptive families and rescue groups in other areas.

8 comments:

Caroline said...

This dog at the Hamilton Animal Control could use some help, could TAS help him? He is featured in the last video on this blog. http://www.catrescuer.blogspot.com/

Fred said...

You're talking bureaucracy and jurisdiction and I'm not even sure how to pull an animal out of HAC. I suspect adoptable animals are moved over to the SPCA side of the building and right now, they don't seem too full so hopefully chances are good for the scared little guy. I'll look into it.

Caroline said...

Beth from House of the Discarded could help you, she pulls cats from there at least twice per week.

Ian said...

There are some hateful people in the World based on some of the comments on that story.
I`ve never understood why people take out their anger and frustration about other issues on animals and the people who try to help them.
I don`t see it as an either/or situation.
Is it not ok to care about animals and people?
In my life experience I have found that the most caring compassionate people are those who also care about animals.

Social Mange said...

So much for the myth of pet overpopulation, if they can move animals and get them adopted.

leeeah said...

We got our dog through TAS - he was apparently a stray in Ohio who got picked up and brought up here.

I've always wanted to find the original shelter that had him to get his story...

Fred said...

Hi leeeah, I can be sure but it's likely that if the dog came up via Open Arms, then it was pulled from this place: http://www.openarmspoundrescue.com/MERCERCOUNTYPOUND.html

Not sure if they'll have any files on your guy but there's no harm in asking.

Anonymous said...

Re : HAC pulls - Beware if you're directed to a local rescue through them as we were. 700 bucks later ( 500 donation for a dog's surgery and 200 in supplies ) we were told a more " suitable " foster home ( they feed organic raw and we do not ) was found. Dog still has not had surgery. Foster dog still up for foster on petfinder. Both pulls from HAC. Just a general warning.