By Scott Meeker
smeeker@joplinglobe.com
Pogo, a wire-haired Jack Russell terrier, and Crystal, a white terrier cross, have much to be thankful for today.
Besides the holiday dinner and pampered treatment they’ll receive today in Chicago, the two Joplin dogs are getting ready to fly the friendly skies and hopefully find a good home.
Pogo and Crystal are among the dozens of Missouri dogs getting a Thanksgiving reprieve from animal shelters and puppy mills thanks to the inaugural pet rescue airlift offered by Pet Airways and the Best Friends Animal Society.
After being prepared for the trip at Golden Paw Pet Resort, 2300 N. Main St., about 30 dogs from the Joplin Humane Society departed Wednesday for St. Louis. Dogs rescued from Missouri puppy mills were to be added to the group in St. Louis before the canines continued on to Chicago.
In Chicago, they will be pampered in a Pet Airways pet lounge and receive a Thanksgiving meal before catching a flight on Friday to New York. From there, the North Shore Animal League America will help them find new homes.
John Polis, manager of public relations for the Best Friends Animal Society, said Southwest Missouri was a natural fit for the rescue flight because of the animal overpopulation in the area.
Karen Aquino, executive director of the Joplin Humane Society, said there are more animals coming into the Joplin shelter than there are people willing to adopt them.
“Rather than euthanize these animals, we have been reaching out to different rescue groups across the nation to try and get them into homes,” Aquino said. “Best Friends has a nationwide rescue effort and has coordinated this. I think it’s cool to be a part of this maiden rescue voyage.”
Thirty-two dogs were selected from the Joplin shelter. Best Friends paid for a veterinarian to give them a health check and rabies shots, and clear them for travel.
Aquino said the dogs that were chosen are all healthy and of sound temperament. Some are purebreds and others are mixed breeds.
“They’re a motley looking crew,” she said, “but they’re all adorable in their own way.”
Established in July, Pet Airways is the nation’s only airline specifically for pets, offering a way for animals to be transported around the country.
Alysa Binder, executive vice president and co-founder of Pet Airways, said the not-for-profit organization does not believe that pets should be euthanized and wants to help save as many as possible.
“Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to give back, and we’ve donated the flight to be able to do that,” Binder said.
Once the dogs — or “pawsengers,” as Binder calls them — board their flight on Friday morning, they will receive first-class treatment. Riding in the main cabin, they’ll experience a climate-controlled ride with vet technicians on hand to make sure they’re safe and comfortable.
Before and after their flight, they’ll be given water, food and potty breaks, Binder said.
“They’ll be getting red-carpet service,” she said. “Some of these puppy-mill dogs and shelter dogs have never been out of a kennel before, so they’ll be monitored at all times.”
Polis said the dogs should quickly find new owners in the New York area.
“The North Shore Animal League is pretty active about taking dogs from various places around the country,” he said. “They’ve had great success. There’s a high probability that each of these dogs will be adopted pretty fast.”
Polis said the effort is a “win-win” situation for each of the organizations involved.
“It’s a labor of love between the different organizations,” he said. “If we get 50 to 60 dogs in good homes, it’s great for everybody.”
Predicament
“Dogs that are in shelters around the country are in a predicament that they didn’t cause, and it’s up to us to find a good home for them. We think that every animal deserves a second chance.”
— John Polis, manager of public relations for the Best Friends Animal Society
