On October 23, 2020, our Mobile Rescue Unit pulled into our Port Washington, N.Y. campus from its third lifesaving mission to the hurricane-devastated areas in Louisiana and Texas. It was carrying 37 puppies and dogs and 18 cats and kittens that would have been euthanized as the shelters there are overflowing with animals due to the non-stop storms.
North Shore Animal League America arranged a transport with PAWS4Life that would ultimately open up space in Bossier City Animal Control and other local shelters for animals that would need a haven after the latest devastating hurricane blew through the region. Hurricane Delta, the 10th named storm to make landfall in the United States in 2020, dropped more than 15 inches of rain in parts of Louisiana and Texas.
As Hurricane Laura was developing into a real threat, our Emergency Rescue Team began reaching out to our partner shelters in Louisiana and Texas to see what help we could provide. As always, supplies were at the top of the list, and clearing the shelters of as many homeless dogs and cats as we could to make room for those that would be displaced from their homes and families by this devastating storm.
The staff waited expectantly as the lifesaving transport pulled onto North Shore Animal League America’s Port Washington, N.Y. campus on a weekday evening with 29 tiny kittens aboard, completing their journey to safety.Five of these innocent, young kittens had already been through so much hardship during their short lives. These babies had been abandoned with their mom when the tenant of a rural Virginia property just moved away and left them behind.
North Shore Animal League America often rescues pregnant dogs or dogs with litters of puppies. Recently, two sweet mama dogs arrived with their pups on a rescue transport from Tennessee. Sadly some of their pups starting showing possible signs of canine parvovirus. The ones who tested positive were placed right away in isolation in our Freed Special Recovery Center. Thanks to this vital resource, our special procedures, and amazing staff, there is good news for the pups!
Benji, recruited from puppies saved by North Shore Animal League America from an overcrowded shelter, is the first graduating service dog for Putnam Service Dogs. He gives a new meaning to the phrase “second chances” — Benji the rescue dog is going on to a life dedicated to assisting a person with disabilities other than blindness.
When Little Man and Bella, a pair of bonded Chihuahuas, came to North Shore Animal League on a rescue transport from Texas they had no idea their world was changing for the better. After a short time as office fosters, where they learned to trust and socialize, these devoted siblings soon found themselves in their perfect home.
Amy Huang, part of the Volun-TEEN program at North Shore Animal League America, didn’t just put in her six months of time for high school service credits, she loved every minute while she was here with the animals. She loved it so much that she continued to volunteer past her initial commitment and asked to conduct her senior experience here as well.
Tom Burke stands in front of the training room at North Shore Animal League America and distributes the handouts for the volunteer dog walking class. At the same time, he and Maria D’Agostino talk about their experiences with the dogs on the Port Washington, NY campus. Their smiles light up the room.
During this time of crisis, the world continues to change with an unsettling uncertainty. Yet, as the COVID-19 pandemic pushes the country into another week of quarantine, for the lives of all the animals at North Shore Animal League America it’s just another day in the dog park.