Moving Dogs Around The Country To Find Good Owners

[Global Paw]

Animal shelters throughout Maine, and the country, are working together to make sure there are enough pets to adopt.

Through the network, shelters across the state have been able to avoid putting dogs to sleep because of a lack of space.
The Animal Refuge League in Westbrook has taken in about 200 out-of-state dogs and 200 in-state dogs in the past year. The shelter has adopted out almost all of them.
"Just having a new place and a new audience for those animals often results in a very quick adoptions," said the shelter's executive director, Deb Clark.
The shelter in Westbrook talks with the Bangor Humane Society every week or every other week. The shelter takes in as many dogs as it has space for.
Angel's a dog that moved here two weeks ago from West Virginia. In that shipment, the shelter got about a dozen dogs.
"For every dog that moves north, that opens up another spot for a dog to come in," said Susan Britt, the shelter's manager. "So we're really helping out those very, very depressed areas make some great inroads in their animal welfare situation."
The shelter's executive director adds they try to make sure more dogs don't end up in the same situation by taking care of them before they leave.
"Our animals go out spayed or neutered, vaccinated, tested for behavioral issues and so we try to make the best possible match with the homes which will allow them to stay permanently with those people that want to welcome them," said Clark.
Clark and Britt credit the shelter's website with helping them adopt out the dogs so quickly.