At-Risk Heartworm-Positive Dogs to Be Flown From Overcrowded Shelters to New Homes

Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/save-a-heart-good-flight-sept-13/

It can be tough to find a forever family when you’re a shelter pet, with plenty of other animals vying for the same homes. Add on a heartworm diagnosis, and it can be even tougher. Potential adopters may be concerned about serious health or behavioral issues, leaving these animals to wait even longer. It can also be hard for overcrowded shelters to treat and find continued space for such pets. We’re teaming up with multiple shelters and other partners to help tackle this issue.

As part of the Save a Heart initiative, which aims to increase pet adoptions in crowded shelters by treating and preventing heartworm, we’ll be helping fly more than 50 at-risk shelter dogs from overflowing southern shelters to New Jersey and to new homes. The September 13 transport is another installment of Greater Good Charities’ Good Flights Program, with The Animal Rescue Site helping fund the transport and supplies, thanks in part to your contributions.

saveaheartflightsep135 - At-Risk Heartworm-Positive Dogs to Be Flown From Overcrowded Shelters to New Homes — TWO DOGS SIT IN THEIR CRATES DURING A PAST GOOD FLIGHT TRANSPORT. PHOTO: GREATER GOOD CHARITIES

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, the maker of HEARTGARD Plus, will also cover medical costs and products for these dogs. The asymptomatic heartworm-positive pups receive their initial treatment before being flown out. The shelters then work to get them into foster or adoptive homes to complete their treatment and to be monitored until they’re negative.

Among the pups hitching a ride this time around are Nene and Bear, who came into Iberville Parish Animal Shelter – a participating rescue – with six of their younger siblings who were just 2-weeks-old. Their mother was run over by a car, leaving these babies in need of being bottle fed to survive. Nene and Bear were older but also in need of loving care.

Bear - At-Risk Heartworm-Positive Dogs to Be Flown From Overcrowded Shelters to New Homes — BEAR. PHOTO: IBERVILLE PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER

Their owner was unprepared for such a monumental task and sent them to the shelter, which immediately arranged for a foster home. In the care of their loving fosters, they were bathed, groomed, and began to thrive. Now, Bear and Nene are ready to thrive in a forever home.

nene - At-Risk Heartworm-Positive Dogs to Be Flown From Overcrowded Shelters to New Homes — NENE. PHOTO: IBERVILLE PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER

This Save a Heart flight will help them get there. On September 13, the transport will take off from New Orleans and arrive in Morristown, New Jersey, hours later. St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center will be ready to welcome the dogs. From loading to landing, there will be workers on hand who are trained and experienced in animal welfare transport, making sure everything goes smoothly and comfortably for the dogs.

To date, Good Flights has helped transport more than 6,300 at-risk shelter pets, including more than 660 asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs through Save a Heart. The program also helps with disaster relief, homeless cats, and harder-to-adopt large breed dogs.