Walton County’s Abandoned Pets Find Homes in Connecticut

When volunteers from Walton Animal Guild left for Connecticut at the beginning of the month, they had 27 abandoned dogs from the local shelter looking to find a better life. The came back with just five.

“We took 27, 22 were adopted,” said Karen Dean, the director of WAG. “The more we can adopt, the more come out of the shelter alive.”

Dean said the pet overpopulation problem is vastly different in the northeast because of mandatory spay/neuter laws.

“Although there are certainly homeless pets in other states, they don't have the surplus we have,” she said. “Over the last several years we've worked with many out-of-state rescues, pulling and holding dogs until they can be transported, usually on a one or two-dog basis. We developed a relationship with Dog Days Adoption Events in Connecticut. They host large community supported adoption events, inviting in and out-of-state rescues. They do a wonderful job - require home visits, references checks, etc. The opportunity to adopt 20+ dogs into quality homes is one we can't afford to pass up.” 

So on July 1, volunteer Melanie Zajac and her group of volunteers set out with an assortment of dogs hopeful for a new home and the chance of a permanent family. Prior to the trip, love, time and a whole lot of money went into making the dogs as adoptable as possible.

”We have a lot of upfront veterinary costs to get the dogs ready for adoption,” Dean said. “Every dog is quarantined, vaccinated, spay/neuter, dewormed several times, tested for heartworms, microchipped - not to mention gas money going up, motel room, etc. WAG and volunteers contribute what they can.”

Dean said they would love to come up with a way for the community to be more involved.

“Maybe sponsor a dog on their journey? We post on FB during the event, so people can follow our progress,” Dean said, adding that there is another trip tentatively set for the last week in September but that at this time there is no specific fundraising event scheduled. “Unless we come up with one. Our WAG 'n Walk Pet Festival is coming up on Sept. 8, 2013. It is a major fundraiser.”