Keeping Pups Out of Overpopulated Animal Shelters
Got a car? Volunteering with animal rescue transport is an incredible way to help pets right in your area. From personal experience, I’ll be helping my local transport teams as long as I have a driver’s license.
What is Dog Transport Driving?
If you’re new to the subject, let me give you a quick definition: volunteers pick up a dog or group of dogs at Point A, and take them to Point B. It’s that easy.
But where are these dogs going? With help from amazing organizations across the country, they’re on their way to happy, safe, and healthy lives in forever homes. Groups like your local shelter or Pilots N Paws coordinate the transfer of dogs from overpopulated areas with high-turnover kill shelters to less populated areas with coordinated foster homes, no-kill shelters, and breed rescues. While no-kill shelters are the ideal goal, kill shelters exist because they are simply overwhelmed by numbers, and need to do what they can to guarantee survival for as many animals as possible. By relieving these numbers, we can ensure that shelter workers are able to given even more animals that chance.
The group I’ve volunteered with for a while now is Paws on Wheels. Every weekend, they start in Altus, Oklahoma, generally with about 10 – 20 dogs, and the journey starts toward destinations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois.
It takes a village to get there. Drivers usually volunteer for a leg of about 80 – 120 miles, one way. My last transport was a two-hour drive to Bethany, Missouri, to pick up nine little souls (six puppies) and deliver them to another driver in Des Moines, who was headed to Hampton, Iowa.
I was down and back by lunchtime.
Volunteering with Animal Shelters
It all starts with connecting with your local animal shelter or transport organization. Like I said, it takes a village to establish these dog transport routes and keep them functioning, and current volunteers will know where you can best slot in to help the entire operation.
Each organization and locale is different, but you’ll typically need a couple of things to get started:
- Ensure your eligibility. For example, while there are some organizations that can provide volunteer opportunities for kids and teens, many require that volunteers be over 18. For transport driving, you’ll of course be required to have a valid drivers’ license and access to a car.
- Fill out an application. Shelters want to get a sense of your experience level, though you shouldn’t be afraid to apply if you’re a first-timer! They may also require a photo ID and a background check.
- Attend an orientation or training. You’ve been accepted, and now it’s time to get started. Reputable animal rescues and shelters will provide you with the knowledge necessary to get the job done safely and effectively.
Ok, so you’ve been accepted to volunteer as a dog transport driver, you’ve been trained, and you’re ready to get started! To ensure your first trips are successful and comfortable for both you and the dogs, here are a couple of other tips for the road:
- Plan ahead. In addition to the usual planning you’d do for a long drive (i.e. checking the weather or traffic report), it’s good to know where emergency vets or other helpful resources for pets are located along your route.
- Pack the essentials, like dog food, water, and bowls; a dog bed and blankets; dog toys; poop bags, pee pads, and grooming wipes; a dog-friendly first aid kit; cleaning supplies.
- When you need to make a pit stop, avoid crowded areas, especially ones with lots of other dogs. To keep these rescues from getting overwhelmed or coming into contact with diseases they may not yet be able to handle, it’s best to give them space. And of course, always keep them on-leash.
Dog Transport Driving is Fulfilling!
When I tell my friends about my recent transports or post pictures on Facebook, I often hear how that is so giving of me – so selfless. Sure, that’s one way to look at it, and I appreciate the sentiment. But the truth is, I get plenty out of these runs!
I meet the coolest people, some of whom do this every weekend. Many of them also have their kids with them to assist and learn the value of volunteering, which gives me so much optimism for the future of these animals.
I usually learn something – maybe about a new type of collar or crate, or a special food or medication. Sometimes, it’s about how you can connect even better with the animals you’re caring for. For example, on one transport, I realized that a good audio book calms even the most nervous little Min Pin!
Truthfully, you just can’t beat dog transport driving when it comes to the gratification of helping those who can’t help themselves. It’s doing a good thing, for the sake of doing a good thing!
If you’ve got the time to spare, I really urge you to give transport driving a try. You just need a dependable vehicle, a good playlist for the ride, and the commitment to these sweet pups. And hey, if you’re reading this, I know you love dogs!
Just call your local rescue or shelter. They will hook you up with a local organization that needs your help. If you want to check out groups who travel through central Iowa, I recommend AHeinz57 and Paws on Wheels.
– Muzzlebump! 🙂