An informal network of animal lovers is transporting dogs at risk of euthanasia into Virginia and other states. But critics say a lack of safeguards may put adopters at risk if they unwittingly take in dogs with behavioral problems. Some dogs who attacked were found to have been recently “rescued.”
From the Virginian-Pilot:
Read Full Article »Volunteer pet transport groups got their start in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Louisiana SPCA said it was faced with rescuing more than 15,500 animals after that disaster, and other groups handled thousands more. “Shelters and fostering agencies stepped in to help because there was no single facility in Louisiana large enough to house them until their owners could be located,” the group said on its website about the rescue efforts. “This resulted in rescued animals being transported all across the country for holding in hopes of future reunion.” The mission to help get pets out of New Orleans was driven in part by the “no-kill” movement, which started in California in the 1980s. The movement looked to end euthanasia as a means of keeping shelter populations down.
