Washington County SPCA: 1,000 puppies, dogs saved

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - The Washington County SPCA can now say it has rescued more than 1,000 dogs and puppies since it first became a partner shelter in the national transport program, PetSmart Charities® Rescue Waggin’, two years ago.

Thursday morning, shelter officials loaded 34 dogs and puppies onto a PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' Vehicle that will take them to the Humane Society of Boulder in Boulder, Colo., where dogs are generally adopted within a week of arriving.

Thursday's number actually brings the number of animals transported since the first load of 19 dogs in September 2009 to 1,014, according to Washington County SPCA Shelter Manager Paula Blower.

“We never set out to set any records,” she said. “Our only goal was to send out as many adoptable animals as possible.”

According to PetSmart Charities officials, Washington County SPCA reached the 1,000 animals transported milestone one year before any of the other 60 partner shelters in the national transport program.

“One shelter in the Rescue Waggin’ Program achieved this milestone in three years, but most shelters need four or five years to save 1,000 lives through the program,” said Executive Director for PetSmart Charities Susanna Della Maddalen. “Clearly, the WCSPCA is very committed to getting as many dogs and puppies as they can aboard the Rescue Waggin’ vehicle every month. We’re very proud of their efforts to save the lives of so many dogs in their community.”

PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' vehicle that stopped Thursday in Bartlesville visits the shelter every month to give adoptable dogs and puppies an air-conditioned ride to Boulder, Colo. — and one step closer to what will be a new home.

At the Humane Society of Boulder, the dogs get 12-24 hours of 'down time' before receiving a medical check-up, a spay/neuter surgery. They are then placed on the adoption floor where they are generally adopted within a few days of their arrival due to a high demand there for these dogs.

Blower is already looking forward to the next transport.

“We have another transfer in 3 weeks,” she said. “So we are starting on our 2,000 animals now.”

Washington County SPCA is part of the Great Plains Rescue Waggin' Program and one of only 60 animal shelters across the nation participating in this national transport program.

For more information about the Rescue Waggin' program and other PetSmart Charities programs, click here or call 1-800-423-PETS.