Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clear-the-shelters/
Beginning on August 23, hundreds of U.S. shelters will be joining NBC Universal and Telemundo for Clear the Shelters, a national adoption drive running through Sept. 19, 2021.
As in past years, Greater Good Charities and The Animal Rescue Site will be taking a leading role in this adoption campain, which has helped more than 550,000 shelter pets find forever homes since 2015!
On August 23, Greater Good and the Animal Rescue Site will be kickstarting this year’s adoption drive by flying 180+ high-risk dogs and cats from New Orleans, Louisiana — where shelter overcrowding places animals in danger of euthanasia.
These life-saving flights will land in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Morristown, New Jersey, carrying 70+ dogs and 110+ shelter cat passengers on two planes.
Unlike in Louisiana — where homeless animals outweigh the number of prospective adopters, increasing their risks of euthanasia — we’re flying these loving pets to U.S. regions where demand for adoption is high.
Upon landing in New Jersey and Massachusetts, the Southern shelter pets will be transferred to local shelters–and be adopted in days!
Many of our August 23 fliers also risked heartworm disease in Louisiana, where rates of infection are soaring.
Even so, Louisiana shelters often lack the resources and space to treat sick animals, giving heartworm-positive shelter pets an especially slim chance of survival. By clearing the shelters on August 23, these rescue flights will help save their lives!
Both August 23 flights will be operated by Greater Good’s Good Flights, in conjunction with our August Flights to Freedom.
Our first Clear the Shelters/Flights To Freedom plane will depart from New Orleans with a mixture of dogs and cats aboard. The plane will touch down in Morristown, NJ, where 70+ shelter dog passengers will be transferred to local shelters for adoption.
Shelter dog passengers include puppy sisters Venus and Serena, who were briefly abandoned on an elderly woman’s porch after their owner (and her relative) lost his home and job.
“These cute athletic girls had a rough start, a belly full of worms, and thinning of hair from living conditions,” shelter workers told Greater Good Charities. “They are patiently waiting for their chance to explore and leave the Bayou State, where they will have a better chance at finding their furever home.”
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Puppies Clairee, Shelby, and Truvy will also be flying to new lives with us on August 23, 2021. The baby dachshund mixes were surrendered by a woman who regrettably delayed neutering her male dog, only to later discover her female dog (the puppies’ mother) was pregnant.
“She knew she did not have the resource to give them the medical attention they need to stay healthy,” shelter workers recalled. “With sadness in her eyes, she asked if we would take them and find them the homes they deserved.”
Other shelter dog passengers include Esme, a shelter dog found outside an RV Park; Iris, who was rescued from a busy highway; and Theodore, a scared, hungry beagle who spent four terrifying days hiding in a stranger’s shed after being dumped by his former owner.
“He was so thirsty when he arrived at the shelter and immediately laid his head down on his bed,” shelter workers told Greater Good Charities. “Theodore is shy and scared but looks for affection. We reassure him he will be loved, and he comes out of his shell more and more every day.”
Of course, Clear the Shelters is equally committed to our feline friends, especially during the height of kitten season! Our August 23 flights will also include 110+ feline travelers, including shelter cats and kittens like Cinderella, Juju, and Becker.
Not only are these lucky kittens and cats being rescued from Louisiana –one of the worst states for shelter pets – they’re being flown to Massachusetts, which The Washington Post named America’s number 1 cat-loving state!
But we can’t clear the shelters on August 23 without your help! Please make a donation to help us fund air miles for Serena, Venus, Juju, Cinderella, Theodore, and all of the 180+ shelter pets hoping to board our rescue flights. Your lifesaving donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, thanks to Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Thanks for helping us clear the shelters and save lives on August 23!
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
