The Incredible Journey

I am reposting this from another blog http://houndsgood.com/2009/06/22/the-incredible-journey/

If you can help, please do! Go to THEIR website and respond if you can be a part of this journey.

Last week, a pair of dogs, who had been together from a very young age were dumped off at animal control. Their elderly owner had bladder cancer, and their family refused to take care of the man’s beloved dogs. They felt like taking care of the man was enough as it was. For me, it was hard to believe a family wouldn’t come to the conclusion that having his pets around him would keep him upbeat.

Death seemed imminent, as owner turn ins are the first to be euthanized. After all, the shelter need not hold them to give owners a chance to find them because they are not looking for them. “Pairs” are sometimes a tough sell on rescues or adopters as people feel badly not being able to keep them together, so opt for another dog. It seemed like there was no hope for these two, until a kind woman named Mary spotted Hennesey on petfinder from over a thousand miles away, and knew that she would fit in well with her two existing dogs. Having a three dog limit where she lived, she could not take on Jack. We were thrilled, of course, when the sweet black and white lady was chosen, but feared that her buddy would be left behind to die. Even though he was neutered, so the main adoption expense would not have to be paid, black labs are a tough sell because there are so many at the shelters.

Jack was to be euthanized today. He was held over from Friday, and given one last chance. Over the weekend, a miracle happened. Mary was at a family function and mentioned her sadness over not being able to save both. Lo and behold, a relative - I believe the sibling of an in-law - overheard the tale of the two tails, and was interested in adopting Jack!Now, instead of being euthanized together, one making it and one not, or being split up and going separate ways, these dogs will be able to live the rest of their lives seeing each other from time to time! They will live just about an hour apart, and their owners are connected through blood and marriages, so the happy reunions will happen for these dogs not just once for old time’s sake, but regularly.This would seem like a Hollywood ending, but there is just one more element that has to come together and that is their transport to freedom. There is a legged transport organized to get them from a kill shelter in Georgia, to their new homes in upstate New York.Do you live a long the way? Can you help? If you have ever taken a drive with your dog somewhere before, you are definitely well qualified to assist these kids get home.

SATURDAY JUNE 27TH, 2009 ~SUNDAY JUNE 28TH, 2009~

FRANKLIN, GA to Jordan NY

Passenger is coming from kill shelter to New Approved home waiting. :)

Transport Coordinator: Kathi

Phone: 603-475-3806

Email:

kathi@dontdumpthatdog.com

Passenger List:

Hennessy~BORDER COLLIE MIX FEMALE

Jack~ Black Lab Neutered Male

Coming from~

Heard County Animal Control Center

11818 Ga Hwy 100

Franklin, GA 30217

Phone: 706-675-3570

Going to New home

Mary Hunnicutt ~Jordan, NY 13080

**All Passengers travel uncrated with leash and collar

****Paperwork accompanies all passengers

All legs flexible

SATURDAY JUNE 27TH, 2009

Leg 1- FILLED~THANK YOU EMILY

Depart: Franklin GA 8:00 am

Arrive: Atlanta GA 9:10 am

1 hour 10 min

Leg 2 - NEEDED~

Depart: Atlanta GA 9:25 am

Arrive: Commerce GA 10:35 am

1 hour 10 min

Leg 3 - NEEDED~

Depart: Commerce GA 10:50 am

Arrive: Greenville SC 12:05 pm

1 hour 15 min

Leg 4 -NEEDED~

Depart: Greenville SC 12:20 pm

Arrive: Gaffney SC 1:15 pm

55 min

Leg 5 - NEEDED~

Depart: Gaffney SC 1:30 pm

Arrive: Charlotte NC 2:30 pm

1 hour

Leg 6 - NEEDED~

Depart: Charlotte NC 2:45 pm

Arrive: Jonesville NC 4:00 pm

1 hour 15 min

Leg 7 - NEEDED~

Depart: Jonesville NC 4:15 pm

Arrive: Austinville VA 5:10 pm

55 min

Leg 8 - NEEDED~

Depart: Austinville VA 5:25 pm

Arrive: Hanging Rock VA 6:40 pm

1 hour 15 min

***OVERNIGHT NEEDED IN ROANOKE VA AREA***

~SUNDAY JUNE 28TH, 2009~

Leg 9 -NEEDED~

Hanging Rock VA - Fairfield VA

8:00-9:00 am

Leg 10 - NEEDED~

Arrive: Mount Jackson VA 10:30 am

1 hour 15 min

Leg 11 -NEEDED~

Depart: Mount Jackson VA 10:45 am

Arrive: Martinsburg WV 11:50 am

1 hour 5 min

Leg 12 -NEEDED~

Martinsburg WV- Carlisle PM

12:05 pm-1:20 pm

1 hour 15 min

Leg 13 -NEEDED~

Carlisle PA -Tremont PA exit at rt 209 (81)

1:20- 2:45 PM

61.64 mi 1 hr 6 min

1 hour 15 min

Leg 14 -NEEDED~

Tremont PA exit at rt 209 (81)-Hazleton PA (81)

2:45-3:45PM

38.23 miles 44 mins

Leg 15 -NEEDED~

Hazleton PA (81)

edwardsville PA

3:45- 4:30PM

30miles 44 mins

Leg 16-NEEDED~

Edwardsville PA -Hallstead PA

4:30PM - 5:50PM

67.19 miles 1 hr 17min

Leg 17- NEEDED~

Hallstead PA - Cortlandville NY (81)

5:50PM 7:00PM

54.22 1hr 3 mins

Leg 18- FILLED~THANK YOU MARY

Cortlandville NY - Jordan NY (Home sweet home)

7:00PM- 8:12PM

68.32 mi 1hr 12 mins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Passenger #1:

Hennesey

Breed: Border collie mix

Color: Black & White

Age: young/adult

Weight: 40-50lb

Sex: Female

Crate: No

Leash/Collar: Yes - provided

Vaccinations: UTD

Altered: will be done by rescue/Adopter

Health Issues: None - Health Certificate accompanies passenger

Behavior Issues: None

Passenger #2:

Jack

Breed: Black Lab

Color: Black

Age: young/adult

Weight: 50-55lb

Sex: Male

Crate: No

Leash/Collar: Yes - provided

Vaccinations: UTD

Altered: Yes

Health Issues: None - Health Certificate accompanies passenger

Behavior Issues: None

*~INFO NEEDED ~*

Leg willing to drive:

First & last name:

Location:

Email:

Home:

Cell:

Vehicle description:

Tag state and number:

PLEASE CONTACT Kathi at Kathi @ dontdumpthatdog.com if you can drive one or more legs!

Why I do it

This is a guest post by Ashlee . . . one of our dedicated volunteers.

The people around me all think I'm crazy for spending so much of my time working with the humane society. As you all know, it isn't a Saturday and Sunday job, it gets to a point where it consumes every waking minute, I go to bed thinking about it, I wake up thinking about it. I've loved all animals my entire life, I could almost say I've learned more from animals than I have humans, I've definitely learned more about life in general by working with animals. I grew up out in the country where people frequently dumped their animals like garbage. They showed up to my house and, against my parents suggestions, I always fed them and took care of them. Most had been abused and all had been neglected. These animals didn't have any reason to trust me or love me but they did. That was probably the first thing I learned from an animal and the resilience still amazes me and brings me to tears.

I still don't understand how or why they would ever want to look at another human after being treated they way they had been treated. I realized that forgiveness was a real thing. I got my first dog of my very own (not a family pet) when I was in the third grade at which point I learned responsibility and unconditional love. I knew my family loved me no matter what, but having that little head come rest on my lap right after I had yelled at him for chewing my barbie's legs off showed me what the meaning of unconditional was. I learned patience when that same dog chewed up my favorite shoes that I had saved my own money up for three months to buy in middle school. The day after I graduated, when I had to rush that same little guy to the vet after he had been attacked by dogs, I learned what it felt like to truly have my heart broken when I received the call that he didn't make it.

I don't do it for people. I don't do it to feel important. I don't do it for power. I don't do it because I like being at Petsmart every weekend. I do it because I want to help, because no one else will, because at the end of the day when the world has beaten me down, my Tigger hops up beside me on my bed and tells me that it will be okay, and mainly I do it because I truly believe that animals deserve a return on the love that they give.

I think about this often because some days it just feels hopeless and like I'm not helping at all and I have to remind myself why. I'm not doubting anyones reasons for being involved..... okay, yes I am, but I just think that some days we lose sight of things and we need to stop and remember why we do it.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and enjoy the world around you while you can, we aren't promised tomorrow, we barely have today, and yesterday is gone and should be left in the past.