Washington County SPCA sends dogs, puppies for adoption in Colorado

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - The Washington County SPCA early Friday morning sent 29 dogs and puppies to Colorado on a PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' Vehicle.

Since becoming a Rescue Waggin' partner in September a year ago, by the end of this month the Washington County SPCA will have saved 500 dogs and puppies, thanks to the partnership.

According to Paula Blower, shelter manager for the Washington County SPCA , the shelter would have transported the number sooner had not recent forest fires in Colorado complicated the sheltering situation for the pets, forcing transports to carry only 30 animals instead of 40.

Nevertheless, Blower is pleased at the success of the program.

"We've only been in this program for a year, but the impact has been tremendous for us,' said Paula Blower. "The Rescue Waggin' Program gives us the opportunity to save more lives every month. And, we're excited to say we've saved 500 dogs and puppies in our first year in the program."

Another transport on Sept. 28 will mark 500 dogs transported.

PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' vehicle visits the Washington County SPCA every month, picking up adoptable dogs and puppies and taking them on an air-conditioned, custom-ride to their destination shelter — the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Boulder, Colo. Upon arrival, the dogs get 12-24 hours of 'down time' before getting a medical check-up, their spay/neuter surgery, and placement on the adoption floor.

The dogs are generally adopted within a few days of their arrival, according Richard Parsons, the executive director of the Washington County SPCA.

Washington County SPCA is part of the Great Plains Rescue Waggin' Program and one of only 55 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.