On the Road to Rescue Kim M. Kehoe • Spot Magazine
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ot much gets this person excited for a 4 a.m. alarm, except, possibly, catching a flight to a far-off vacation destination. AND, it turns out, I can also welcome that dreaded sound if it means boarding a Furry Freight Shelter Transport to give shelter animals the prospect of wonderful homes in the Northwest. Not only did I voluntarily wake at this hour, but to the surprise of this non-morning person, I even woke several times overnight in anticipation of the life-saving journey ahead!
health, temperament, demand in receiving area, and fitness for transport, as they have a long trip ahead before reaching their new homes. In the 24 hours before departure, the animals must also meet strict requirements for vaccinations and health checks to lower the prospect of disease transmission. Puppies too young for a full slate of vaccines go through an exacting infection-control transport protocol with rules such as “no paws touch the ground.”
An Oregon non-profit, Furry Freight Shelter Transport (FFST) saves lives by transporting dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters with very low adoption rates. Relocating adoptable pets to areas of high demand saves them from the risk of euthanasia, explains Founder and President Kim Wilken.
Our journey starts at 6 a.m. on a chilly early-March morning. We’re leaving an area known for its moody weather and ever-present prospect for freezing fog or snow in the mountain passes. Conditions are unusually merciful on this day, and we make excellent time on our 11-hour road trip. That’s 11 hours of driving, not factoring in the requisite potty, caffeine, gas and stretch breaks. It’s a trek that lands us in rush-hour traffic as we get closer to our Central California destination. But the slower travel is rewarded with the sight of spring-blooming trees and green fields in every direction. And there’s sunshine! We’ve traveled from winter to spring in a day.
Before Wilken loads up her transport van, the partnering organization compiles a list of candidates. They’re all considered for factors such as
When we arrive, I’m anxious to meet the furry friends we’ll be saving. But it will have to wait. For tonight, it’s hotel check-in, quick eats and off to sleep for the rush that begins again at 4 a.m.
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www.zipidydodog.com • 541-548-6244 10 Spot Magazine | June / July 2019
Not knowing what to expect on my first experience as a volunteer in this capacity, that morning I was struck by the sight of several very well-behaved dogs of various breeds, size, condition, age, and personality. Some were tethered in a row along the yard fence, all politely waiting in pre-dawn darkness for their rescue trip and the littles were inside their kennels. And there were PUPPIES!!! Three PUPPIES!! (You can hear my squeal, yes?) The crew tended to a whirl of details: proper, complete paperwork for each pet; plastic collars named and numbered on the off chance of escape; water, food, treats, proper kennel placement; transport vehicle disease prevention protection; strict attention to air flow and temperature. It takes a precisely planned operation to safely relocate such precious cargo to a forever life.