Dixie Dogs get second chance through Dakin

Date: 11/7/2014

SPRINGFIELD – “Wake” is a lucky dog – he was given a second chance at life in 2012 through the Dakin Humane Society’s Dixie Dog Program.

Dakin transports “Dixie Dogs” from overcrowded shelters in southern states, including Kentucky and Texas, so they can receive a second chance at a new life in New England.

“Dakin’s Dixie Dog Program is unique among transport programs because we take great pains to comply with strict Massachusetts regulations governing the transport, housing, health care, and confinement of the dogs,” said Leslie Harris, certified animal welfare administrator and executive director of the Dakin Humane Society, during an interview with Reminder Publications.

Harris noted that the society “carefully” screens the dogs on the sending end by establishing a solid working relationship with its transport partners.

“We have standards they need to meet in how the dogs are evaluated for behavioral soundness,” she said. “We also require that all dogs be removed from a shelter environment and placed in a foster home no less than two weeks prior to transport.”

All dogs are heartworm negative, up-to-date on vaccines, and pass a physical examination by a certified veterinarian prior to transport to Massachusetts. All Dixies come through the Springfield location first since it is Dakin’s state approved quarantine facility.

“There are rescues transporting dogs in New England who are doing so with big hearts but with little regard for the health, welfare, and emotional stability of the dogs,” she said. “This can lead to significant problems after the fact when the dog is already in a home and the rescuers have disappeared.”

Harris added that the Dixie Dog Program is “special” because it helps people see beyond their own geographical region and to consider the plight of animals in other communities.

Wake, an Australian cattle dog from Montgomery County, Texas, was one of 20,000 animals in 2012 that needed a home.

“Our transport partner, Operation Pets Alive (OPA), takes adoptable dogs from this large shelter and provides foster care and transport for them,” said Harris. “You can’t imagine what a lifeline this is for every dog who makes it out of the big shelter.”

Harris and her family adopted Wake when he arrived on the transport.

“Wake has blossomed from a shy dog who was skittish around men and afraid of water to a joyful, social dog who greets everyone with aplomb and never, ever gets tired of swimming,” she said.

Harris noted that Wake also loves the snow, something he had never seen in Texas, lives to fetch, and most importantly, is alive, thanks to the collaborative efforts of OPA and Dakin.

“People should only consider a Dixie Dog if the individual dog is the dog for them,” she said. “There is nothing remarkable about a Dixie Dog that isn’t also true of any local rescued dog. They are all individuals with different needs, personalities, breed types, and temperaments.”

At press time, there is one Dixie Dog available for adoption – “Dusty” a one-year-old neutered male American Blue Heeler that is described as “loyal, hardworking, brave, intelligent, and enjoys doing what he was bred to do – herding.” Dakin’s website notes that Dusty is easy to train and his adoption includes a discount to the Dakin training classes. Dusty is currently at the Leverett adoption center, 163 Montague Road.

Harris noted that Dakin took on the Dixie Dog Program because on a regular basis they had empty adoption kennels and in other parts of the country they were overrun with adoptable dogs.

“We knew that adoptable dogs were dying in these communities simply because there were too dogs,” she said. “Many animal welfare organizations around New England were in the same position at this time, and many of us worked together to determine best practices for transporting dogs from other regions.”

For more information on all animals available through Dakin, visit www.dakinhumane.org or call 781-4000. Also, to help more homeless animals get life-saving second chances, an anonymous donor will match all donations to Dakin between now and Nov. 15 up to $100,000.

Dakin collects an additional $50 fee for Dixie Dogs and sends that money back to the southern organization to help provide spay/neuter assistance in that community.

 “We spay/neuter, vaccinate, heart worm test, and microchip all Dakin dogs prior to adoption,” said Harris, adding, “The basic truth is that all the animals need a home. While we have fewer homeless dogs than other regions, it’s still important for people to consider adoption first.”