Fifty to 60 dogs coming from Tupelo
A heavy-duty truck and 36-foot-long trailer used during disasters was due to arrive here Tuesday afternoon with 50 to 60 dogs from tornado-struck Tupelo, Mississippi.
They are on their way to receiving shelters in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the nonprofit Animal Alliance on Route 179 north of Lambertville.
This is the first of two transports expected to arrive early in the week. This operation is made possible with the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare to help the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which is experiencing a continuous influx of dogs in the aftermath of the April 27 tornado. Its shelter is overcapacity by housing and caring for about 185 dogs and cats.
This emergency transport allows the shelter team to focus on the recovery efforts and relieves some of the burden as new dogs start coming in.
All of the transported dogs have received full veterinary checks before traveling. At Animal Alliance the dogs will receive full veterinary care, including spay and neuter surgery, heartworm testing, full vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick treatment, and grooming, prior to being placed up for adoption.
”Though we ordinarily focus our efforts on local rescue in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, we are proud to assist our partners at Animal Lifeline in Warrington, who are on the ground as first-line rescuers working with IFAW to bring these animals to safety,” said Annie Trinkle, executive director of Animal Alliance. “We stand ready to accept these dogs who have been traumatized by this natural disaster, and who needed to be evacuated for their safety and to make room for new animals at the overburdened area shelters.”
People who are interested in seeing the “tornado dogs” should fill out an application on the alliance’s website, or come see them at the alliance’s new pet adoption center after June 1, said Amy Curry, director of operations at Animal Alliance.
”These are dogs who have seen a horrible natural disaster, lost their homes, and possibly have seen family members perish before their eyes,” she said. “These are animals that will need lots of love and attention to help them adjust to their new surroundings.”
Animal Alliance is charity that finds euthanasia to be an unacceptable fate for adoptable dogs and cats that will lose their life due to pet overpopulation.