Washington County SPCA : On one year anniversary, more than 500 puppies, dogs saved

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Tuesday brought a memorable morning for the Washington County SPCA as it sent 45 dogs and puppies to Colorado on a PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' Vehicle.

“We hit two milestones this morning: our one year anniversary with the PetSmart Charities program and 500 plus dogs that have traveled north,” Paula Blower, shelter shelter manager for the Washington County SPCA told BartlesvilleLIVE.

Since becoming a Rescue Waggin' partner in September a year ago and including Tuesday's send-off, Washington County SPCA has saved 524 dogs in total through the partnership, a feat of which Blower is proud.

“It's exciting to know that when that truck pulled out, these animals are going north and they are going to be adopted in a week to ten days to new homes instead of waiting here waiting to be adopted”, she said.

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.

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.

The story does not end here.

The Rescue Waggin' truck that arrived to the Washington County SPCA Tuesday morning not only came to haul dogs to their new homes in Colorado, it also came to deliver pet food and supplies to the SPCA. These supplies were free, given to the SPCA by the shelter in Boulder, Colo.

According to Blower, the Boulder shelter had such a response from the community during the recent fires in that area, the shelter soon had more extra food and other pet related materials.

They had sent an email out asking if we wanted anything and I said sure. We'll take some canned foods and cat litter. It was no cost to us. They brought it to us. We just had to unload it.” she said.

Blower said the WCSPCA will likely burn though the supplied kitty litter in a week, but said it will take months to go through the canned food.

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