The animals of Laguna Madre are making their way to Colorado.
For a little more than a year, the Laguna Madre Humane Society has been receiving help with their crowding issue from some friends in Denver.
More than 1,000 dogs have made their way northwest in search of a forever home.
It all started when a Colorado resident adopted a dog that had previously been with the society.
After reading the dog’s history, he reached out to the people at the society to give updates on his new pet and keep in touch.
Soon, he connected the society with local shelters in his area.
Now, once a month, trucks carrying the dogs of the Valley are making their way to a new town.
MONEY TROUBLES
With their very limited budget, the society is only able to have three members of full-time staff: a veterinarian, a technician and an office manager.
The rest of their help comes from volunteers.
According to Beth Fedigan, president of the Humane Society, the monthly cost to transport the animals is estimated at $1,000, not including the medical expenses.
“Its so worth it when you see these people and they have smiles on their faces and the dogs have smiles on their faces,” Fedigan said.
All but one of the dogs that were transferred had been adopted.
Dogs being transferred are taken off of euthanasia lists.
“These are all animals that will die if we don’t help them,” Fedigan said.
Shelters like Port Isabel will give the society a two- week notice to remove the animals that will face being euthanized.
To help curb all the costs that the society endures, they maintain a resale shop called Whiskers, located next to the Humane Society.
“Every little bit helps,” Fedigan said.
IN SEARCH OF SPACE
The society doesn’t have a shelter and with the small space they have, they need people to foster or adopt animals.
Currently, there are only about 25 homes in the Valley that have been vetted and are able to foster animals.
While foster homes provide a space for the animals, the society takes on the financial responsibility including food, medicine and vet visits.
