Dakin helping 'Dixie Dogs' find new homes
Date: 10/29/2012
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comSPRINGFIELD — In celebration of National Adopt-A-Dog month, the newest batch of Dixie Dogs arrived at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society (DPVHS) on Oct. 20, and was available for adoption starting Oct. 25.
Dixie Dogs travel from Montgomery County, Texas, via a three-day trip. Operation Pets Alive is a Texas-based nonprofit comprised of volunteers that rescues dogs from shelters and then sponsor their care and the travel to give them the option of adoption.
"The shelters there have an average of about 600 animals [dogs and cats] at one time," Candy Lash, manager of Marketing and Communications for DPVHS, said, explaining the conditions in Texas. The lack of spayed and neutered animals is one reason for the high population. One contributing factor to this, is the sheer cost prohibits owners from getting their animals spayed or neutered.
"Also, in rural areas, a trip to the vet could be more than 100 miles, so owners are not able to travel that far," she stated.
Lash added, "The Dixie Dogs help our local dogs too — local animals always are priority. We have an abundance of room, so we can reach out to our southern neighbors. We're really lucky to have this program. They are high-kill shelters [in Texas]."
In addition to the usual adoption fees, an extra $50 surcharge is required for Dixie Dogs. This fee is returned to the shelters in Texas to assist with the cost of spaying and neutering the animals.
"The dogs lives are being saved, and they're helping to save others," Lash said.
George and Linda LaBonte, residents of Chicopee, arrived first thing at DPVHS, after visiting the organization's website and seeing Frannie, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Labrador mix. Their dog Molly passed away in August.
"We've been missing a member of the family," Linda said. "It is time to fill the void."
George added, "I've had dogs all my life. They offer an irreplaceable companionship."
Lash herself adopted Woodrow, a Dixie Dog who arrived in March, after her two dogs passed last February, within a week of one another.
"I was so lonely," she said. "I missed going for walks in the woods. Woodrow is silly and goofy he makes me laugh. He's a ham."
Within the first hour the dogs were available, the lobby was packed. Three of the Dixie Dogs already had families that were seriously interested in taking them.
According to Lash, transports of Dixie Dogs are slated to arrive every two weeks to the DPVHS, on a regular basis.
The DPVHS helps approximately 6,000 animals yearly. In addition to cats and dogs, many small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and parakeets are available for adoption too.
"The only thing that completes us is adoption [that is our mission]," Lash noted. "[All] we ask for is homes and love for our animals."
For more information about the Dixie Dogs and DPVHS, visit
www.dpvhs.org.
