By Michelle Sathe | PR Specialist
Best Friends Animal Society–Los Angeles celebrates major milestone.
November 1, 2013
By Michelle Sathe
Bart didn't stand out much at the North Central Shelter in Los Angeles, where he was just one of dozens of small, scruffy dogs hoping to get adopted. Many don't leave the shelter alive, but Bart was one of the lucky ones.
On October 3, Bart rolled away on the Pup My Ride van to Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Oregon, making him the 10,000th pet transported by Best Friends Animal Society-Los Angeles to an adoption rescue partner across the country.
Road trips that save lives
Launched in August 2007, Best Friends' Pup My Ride program has greatly reduced the number of healthy and treatable companion animals killed in overcrowded Los Angeles shelters by partnering with lifesaving shelters, such as Greenhill Humane Society.
Bart, a three-pound black cairn terrier mix, is typical of the dogs saved by Pup My Ride. "Most Pup My Ride dogs are under 25 pounds and six years of age, with no medical or behavioral issues," says Robin Harmon, Pup My Ride coordinator. "These are most commonly Chihuahuas, all kinds of terrier mixes and poodles, but we also get a surprising number of purebreds, too."
According to Robin, the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country don't have many small dogs available through shelters and rescues, unlike California where there is a much larger supply than there is demand. Pup My Ride offers residents in these states a humane alternative to buying such dogs from pet stores or breeders.
Welcoming the pups with open arms
At Greenhill Humane Society, Bart was welcomed with open arms after the 850-mile journey. "We knew he was special as soon as we saw him. Some dogs can be shy or nervous after such a long ride, but Bart literally jumped into our arms and started his happy wiggle dance," says Sasha Elliott, communications and events manager of Greenhill Humane Society.
Pup My Ride transport specialist Gayle Alexander, who logs approximately 9,000 miles a month, says the receiving shelters are as excited as the dogs, no matter what time they arrive. "I give kudos to the shelter staff and volunteers who greet the new arrivals late at night and early in the morning, always ready for the kisses they receive," she says. "The happy barks and wagging tails always make my day."
Gayle, like Robin, has been with Pup My Ride since the program began. She started as a volunteer and became an official Best Friends employee in 2010. "I'm in awe of Pup My Ride and the lives it's saved. The number 10,000 is unbelievable," Gayle says. "I'm also grateful for all the help and support provided by our amazing volunteers. We just couldn't do it without them."
Lifesaving program
So far, in 2013 alone, Pup My Ride has transported 1,224 dogs and 156 cats from Los Angeles Animal Services and plays a key role in helping advance the NKLA (No-Kill Los Angeles) initiative, led by Best Friends Animal Society and a coalition of more than 60 Los Angeles animal welfare organizations.
"Our goal is to turn L.A. into NKLA by 2017, and we couldn't do it without programs such as Pup My Ride," says Marc Peralta, executive director of Best Friends Animal Society-Los Angeles and NKLA. "By working together, our staff and the tremendously dedicated volunteers, as well as the receiving shelters that participate in Pup My Ride, are helping us to Save Them All."
Home sweet home
As for Bart, he was adopted on October 18 by Julie Baumler of Eugene and renamed Ivan the Terrier. Julie is a member of Dog Scouts of America, and Ivan is already enrolled as a cadet scout. When he graduates, the achievement will be similar to a Canine Good Citizen certification.
"Ivan seemed like he would be fun and want to learn new things," Julie says. "I think it's cool that he was the 10,000th dog on Pup My Ride, but, more importantly, that all these dogs are going to no-kill shelters and getting homes."
For more information on Best Friends' lifesaving programs in Los Angeles, visit www.bestfriends.org/la or www.nkla.org.
Photos courtesy of Pup My Ride
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