In the early morning of Saturday, October 20th a vehicle transporting 47 dogs from overcrowded Texas animal shelters heading to rescue organizations and adopters in Montana and Washington was involved in a car accident on I-25 in Douglas, Wyoming. The transport vehicle was totaled and with mangled cages and terrified dogs attempting to escape the scene in the middle of the night, local agencies managed to secure the dogs and brought them to a temporary staging location.  The dogs that were left stranded needed immediate transport, which is when Dog Is My CoPilot stepped in. The following day, after receiving veterinary attention and medical checks the dogs were loaded on the ‘Big Dog’, DIMC’s Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and the furry passenger were airborne with Pilot Peter!

Check out this heartwarming story:

“When we were contacted to help transport the dogs stranded in Douglas, Wyoming we just couldn’t say ‘No’.  So I jumped in the plane at 5:30am and flew to Douglas Wyoming and picked up the dogs.  We dropped off a few passengers in Missoula, Montana and the remaining in Wenatchee, Washington.  The dogs still have the golden ticket; they made it out of Texas,” said Founder and Chief Pilot, Dr. Peter Rork.

   

In just a few short hours from departure in Douglas, Wyoming the ‘Big Dog’ landed at its first of two stops in Missoula, Montana.  Adopters eagerly waited on the tarmac to greet the plane full of furry passengers.  Six of the dogs were unloaded and with great big tail wags the dogs greeted their new owners.

  

After the traumatic experience that the dogs had endured over the past 48hours, this was a special moment to be part of! The Big Dog then flew to Wenatache Washington where the amazing staff and volunteers from Seattle Humane Society picked up the remaining dogs.

On the ground adopters met their new family members at Seattle Humane.  The rest of the passengers will be available for adoption at Seattle Humane and PAWS. So many agencies and volunteers from around the country came together at a moments notice.

We, at Dog Is My CoPilot, were only two of dozens who rose for the occasion of this rescue emergency. Some have told us that we must have “capes”. No, we do not have capes, but we do have wings.  Please be sure to follow along on our Facebook and Instagram pages to see updates on many of the dogs that have already been adopted!

   

We can’t complete emergency rescue flights without your support. Every gift makes a difference…for every $50 donated, we’re able to transport and save the life of another dog or cat at risk of being euthanized.  You can make a LIFE SAVING donation HERE.

THANK YOU!

 

When you adopt a dog or cat that needs a forever home, you are saving a life, and it doesn’t get much more heroic than that!

According to the ASPCA, about 1.5 million dogs and cats are euthanized annually in the United States. Every dog successfully adopted is a life saved.

The distribution of animals in the shelter system is not even geographically. Thanks to organizations like Dog is My Copilot, dogs are now being efficiently moved from areas where pet overpopulation is much higher than demand for these pets, to areas where these lovable second chance dogs and cats are in short supply.

That means that no matter where you live, there are adoptable dogs and cats to choose from!

Here are three ways you can find the perfect pup to adopt:

1. VISIT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER

The widest variety of adoptable dogs and cats in need of a home in your area is likely the local animal shelter. Most now have an online presence, so if going to the shelter feels like too much pressure, search for a local shelter on Facebook where they often post updates on the new arrivals.

In addition, online sites such as Petfinder can help you see the adoptable dogs at several nearby shelters at once.

2. BREED RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS

Are you looking for a specific breed? Contrary to popular belief, many shelters have purebred dogs waiting to find a new home. Often these dogs have been surrendered because of a change in life circumstances such as death or financial hardship.

If you don’t feel like waiting for the right breed to come along at your local shelter, then search for breed specific rescue organizations in your state.

Whether you are looking for a Pitbull or a Weiner dog, almost every single breed now has dedicated volunteers working hard to locate the right homes for the animals in their care.

3. SPECIAL NEEDS DOG RESCUE GROUPS

Among the dogs in the adoption system, seniors, the deaf, the blind, and the physically disabled, are among the hardest to adopt. And yet, for some people, giving a home to a dog with special needs is the most rewarding experience of their lives.

There are now several groups devoted to helping these dogs get placed in loving homes. To find out more, search for “disabled dog rescue” followed by your state to find local groups looking for homes and fosters for these loving animals.

We believe that collaboration with animal welfare organizations is key to saving the lives of homeless animals. By working together we can help promote shelter adoption around he country! This week we would like to feature one of our newest partners….Lens And Leash!

Lens And Leash was created with a specific goal in mind; to find every adoptable animal a forever home! To do this, they partner with professional photographers around the country to showcase different animal shelters and each of the adoptable animals. This also allows them to connect with people around the country and share adoption stories and information that can help encourage more people to adopt!

Currently they are looking for new partners! Weather you are a professional photographer or an animal shelter this might be a great opportunity to reach out to Lense and Leash!

Photographers

If you are a photographer that would like to give back and help local rescue animals, you are in the right place! Just fill out this form: https://lensandleash.com/partner-with-us/

Animal Shelters

If you work at an animal shelter and would like to partner with Lens And Leash, we are extremely honored and would love to discuss setting up a photoshoot and larger campaign.

Please fill out the form: https://lensandleash.com/partner-with-us/

We think this is a very worthwhile mission and we hope our followers, partners and supporters will take the time to reach out to the awesome folks at Lens And Leash!

To see examples of some of the shelters they have featured along with the animals, photographers and adoption stories, please check out their website at https://lensandleash.com/.

You can also check out their Facebook Page and Instagram page to see some of the features they have done on the animals to help them get adopted:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lensandleash/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lensandleash/

Photo: Karissa Akin of Après Events

This time of year is a time to celebrate with friends, family, and fireworks! Even though this time can be exciting and fun for us, some animals get lost and confused with all the excitement and noise. If your pets get lost, or if you find a lost pet, below are some things you can do to either find them, or help them be found.

If your pet gets lost:

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advise putting a collar on your pet at all times with an ID tag with your name, phone number, and any relevant contact information on it. If your pet is microchipped, make sure your information is current. If you have changed your address or gotten a new phone number recently, make sure you update their chip as soon as possible.

If your pet has gotten out and you have not been contacted, reach out to as many people as you can. There is a chance your neighbors or friends might have seen them wondering around. Also, be sure to check any place they might be hiding, like under the bed or in a dark place, in case they are hiding or sleeping. Shaking food and treats might help lure them out if that is the case.

If they are not hiding and you are still not able to call them out, take a slow ride or walk around the neighborhood, maybe on a route they normally take during walks with you. While you are searching your neighborhood, call your local animal control agency, veterinary hospitals, and shelters to see if someone might have taken your pet there.

If still missing, place fliers around the neighborhood with a bold title to get attention. Add specific information about your pet as well as two contact numbers, in case someone isn’t able to reach you through the first number. Lastly, put up your pet’s picture on your social media. There are typically neighborhood Facebook pages of some kind available where you can contact the administrators about posting information about your missing pet. This way, more people are aware and might be able to recognize your pet.

 

If you find a lost animal:

American Humane recommends you try to capture and contain the animal if there is no danger in approaching them. Proceed slowly and cautiously and speak gently to them so they feel safe. Temporarily contain the animals until a more permanent solution becomes available. Dogs should be contained in a fenced yard or leash while cats will do better inside a cat carrier or secure box with holes in it for breathing. You could also place them in a small room in your home where they are secure until someone is able to pick them up.

If the animal is aggressive, do not attempt to contain them. If this is the case, call your local animal control or police department with details of the animal so they can professionally and safely handle the situation.

If you do contain a lost pet, check for a collar or an ID tag. If none are present, take them to your local animal shelter or contact animal control to pick them up and check for microchips.

Lastly, take a picture of the animal and post it on social media and create fliers to put around the area. Someone might be able to recognize the animal and help find the owner so they can be reunited.

This is a wonderful time of year where we get to celebrate and be with the ones we love, including our furry friends. In the event that a pet does get lost or found, we hope these tips will help so all animals can be reunited with their families.

References

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/finding-lost-pet

https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/if-you-find-a-lost-pet/

 

Many of us like to spoil our furry friends during the holiday season! Whether we get them a new toy, new bed, or whatever makes them the happiest. If you are shopping for your pet and thinking about buying them new treats or food, though, it could be tricky picking out which brand or flavor. To keep your pet the happiest and healthiest, we have put together the following information to help make it easier to find what you are looking for.

First, it is very important to review the label on the treats and food you are considering to check for any unwanted ingredients or facts. In the article Dog Treat bones and the search engines Alternative it is advised to make sure there is meat used since animal proteins are easier to digest than soy or other vegetable proteins. Avoid anything with a rich amount of carbohydrates and/or fiber, since too much of this can cause constipation, bloating and other digestive problems. Try to avoid compressed green bones solely using vegetables since vegetable proteins are high in carbohydrates.

Next, it is recommended by Dog Food Advisor that you check to see if the treat/food says “by-product”. Animal by-products doesn’t necessarily mean the treat or food is good or a bad, but most times this means the product is made with cheaper ingredients. Depending on how you feel about the quality of your dog treats/food, this is something to consider. Then review the label to see if it says generic by-product or named by-product. With generic by-product treats/food, you do not know what source the meat came from. In named by-product treats/food, they do not used high quality products, but are considered acceptable.

When it comes to looking for your pets treats/food, it states in the article The Truth About Animal By-Products in Dog Food, “With the sole exception of precisely identified organ meats, two rules will help you more intelligently navigate the confusing world of meat-based dog food ingredients. First, watch what you spend. Never pay top dollar for any dog food that lists animal by-products on its label. And lastly, never buy any dog food containing anonymous animal by-products sourced from materials a manufacturer refuses to clearly identify.”

The ingredients in the product you choose for your pet is very important, but it is also important to think about the type of treat you are buying. For younger dogs, a firm and hard treat is better since it reduces the plaque build up around their teeth when they chew on it. For older dogs who might have a harder time with those treats, it is better to get them the softer kind to make it easier for them. Do not buy your pet rawhide dog treats, though, in that the material and additives used are harmful to most dogs and may cause some blockages.

With this information, we hope it helps you to find yummy, healthy treats and food for your pets!

References:

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/

https://www.slideshare.net/geo2460/facts-about-dog-treats

https://www.healthydogtreats.com.au/blog/487-dog-treat-bones-and-the-search-engines-alternative-facts