PARL provides safe haven for homeless dogs through the Indiana “Canine Express Transport Project”
When the Providence Animal Rescue League learned of the desperate needs of homeless dogs in “high-kill” animal shelters in Indiana, it was an easy decision to offer assistance and join an on-going state-to-state animal rescue collaboration of accepting “transport” dogs into its care. These sweet, often young, dogs are considered highly adoptable, with space being the main issue of why they were slated to be euthanized. Now, once a month, PARL welcomes a transport van full of homeless dogs from Indiana to provide them with a second chance at a new life and loving home.
The pups are brought to PARL through an innovative program called, “CANINE EXPRESS TRANSPORT PROJECT” an organization that was formed in 2004 when a creative - thinking shelter volunteer named Cathi Eagen, came up with a solution to the high euthanasia rates in her Indiana area animal shelters. Cathi turned to New England because the problem of unwanted dog litters is no longer a critical issue for the majority of shelters due to years of focused spay/neuter education efforts.
“New England has been on the forefront of the spay/neuter initiative for many years and some shelters, like PARL, found we had room in the kennels to help dogs who otherwise would not have any chance at life at all. We also discovered that by adding some new faces to our kennels many of our harder to adopt dogs found new homes faster. ” says Executive Director, Virginia Hanbridge.
After thoughtful consideration and weighing the pros and cons of such a program, a network of northern shelters from Connecticut to Vermont (including PARL) are part of this amazing program and are able to accept a portion of their dogs into their shelters and relieve them of the over-flow of dogs. Today, over four years later since this project began, over 4,558 dogs have been transported, and with over 100 shelter staff and volunteers involved, the Canine Express Transport Project continues to bring Indiana shelter dogs to New England each month.
“It is our mission to do everything we can to provide a safe haven for as many homeless animals as we can, regardless of where they have come from. PARL has a long history, almost 100 years of animal rescue efforts, and is one of RI’s largest full-service animal shelters. We are happy to open our doors and offer our compassion and experience in providing these dogs with a second chance at life.” says Ms. Hanbridge.
Update - February 15, 2010 - Just wanted to let you know that all 15 of the puppies and young dogs from our February transport have been adopted (including that sweet face above)!
Did you know that February 23rd is SPAY DAY?
Spay Day is a national campaign that aims to inspire people to assist with the pet overpopulation problem by spaying and neutering their pets. Another fact that you may find surprising is that
animal shelters, mainly in the northeast, have 3 times as many cats as dogs. That is certainly the case for PARL.
To help combat this problem , PARL offers a cat spay/neuter program for the public. This fee for service program offers surgery and a rabies vaccination.
And did we mention that ALL cats, dogs and rabbits adopted from PARL are spayed or neutered before entering their new home? Visit our adoptables!
