When this commercial comes on, I think I tear up every time. Because I know dogs like Ducky, lots of them. I meet them on the weekends and we spend about an hour in the car where I pet them and tell them how beautiful they are and then we take a quick stop and they meet someone new. It allows me to give back in a small way and still be a part of the rescue community and literally can be life saving for these pups (and cats, rabbits…even pigs need a ride sometimes!).
You might be surprised to hear how organized these transports are, it’s actually kind of incredible. There’s usually a “TC”, transport coordinator. This is the person that posts on a million Facebook groups, sends out email pleas and replies to all these posts to get drivers signed up for the “run”. The drivers coordinate hand off points with each other and then get back to the coordinator and all the info is neatly organized on the run sheet. Then there is a transport monitor (sometimes the same person as the TC) who keeps in touch with the drivers the day of the transport to keep everyone updated on timing, traffic, weather and ensuring the dogs and supplies (health certificate is required for interstate travel) are safely transferred and that everyone gets back home safe.
There are dedicated Facebook groups where run sheets are posted and volunteers can sign up. Sometimes rescues will put out pleas on their own pages for volunteers and sometimes you get put on an email listserv for a specific rescue, but there are many opportunities and ways to sign up. When I first started I usually just informally posted in rescue groups when I was traveling from Shreveport to New Orleans and asked if any pups needed to bum a ride. One time Joe and I took a very sweet pup from Shreveport, LA to Alexandria, VA! Once we moved to Virginia I learned about the more organized transports and try to sign up for something almost every week. Occasionally we also do short term fosters when needed for either overnight or up to a week.
To get started, all you really need is about a 2.5 hour window and reliable transportation. Legs are around 1 hour of driving time or about 60 miles. Assume all of these dogs are major flight risks and everyone’s safety and secure transfers are top priority! I would suggest getting started by watching these videos:
I also like to keep a bag of supplies in my car, just in case! These include:
Slip lead, extra leash
Potty pads, old towels and/or blankets
Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, baby wipes
Water, water bowl
Trash bags, dog poop bags/old grocery bags
Cheap shower curtain (for puppy transports-their paws can’t touch the ground!)
Crate is optional but I do have something that can clip into the dog’s collar and then click into the seatbelt buckle that helps keep them in place during the ride
A well charged phone is a must!
And if you aren’t convinced how rewarding this is by now, then I hope these photos will do it! And you’ll see Joe often comes with me, and in the times of Covid it’s a nice way to “get out of the house” in a safe way.
Dr. Stephanie LaFave 