Columbiana, Ala – On Monday, 21 March 2022, Shelby Humane transported 87 dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies to New Jersey and New York for adoption, making it the biggest transport Shelby Humane has ever completed. Shelby Humane started the transport program in 2006 and has since transported over 8,000 animals to places like Wisconsin, Maryland, Florida, New Jersey, and New York to name a few.
Transporting animals to partner shelters and rescues in other states is just one of the ways Shelby Humane maintains their No-Kill status as a shelter. “Many states up north have very strict spay and neuter laws, leaving the community with little options for pet ownership,” said Ally Gibson, transport coordinator for Shelby Humane. “By transporting animals from our shelter, we’re able to provide our partnering shelters with animals that support the needs of those communities while simultaneously ensuring our shelter animals have a better chance of finding their forever home.” Gibson also stated that once transported, most animals are placed with adoptive families within a few days of becoming available for adoption. “The need for animals in these areas is so great. When our van arrived in New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, there were only three dogs available for adoption in the New Jersey shelter.”
Shelby Humane Director of Operations, Dr. Bill Rowley, says the transport program would not be possible without the generosity and support of donors and volunteers. “We rely on ‘Freedom Drivers’ to drive the animals to our partnering shelters and rescues. Those drivers are volunteers who generously dedicate their time to drive animals all over the country.” Rowley stated that all expenses are paid in full for the volunteers to include gas, lodging, and meals. “As you can imagine, the support we receive from donors plays an invaluable roll in the success of our transport program.”
Shelby Humane has 4 transports scheduled for April, and one more scheduled for the month of March with some 30 animals headed to their new homes in Chicago, IL. If you or someone you know is interested in being involved in our transport program, visit https://www.shelbyhumane.org/volunteer to volunteer.
