Hard_Rom
Northumbrian Skald
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2014
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/us-rescue-dogs-canada-havens-1.3285354
U.S. rescue dogs destined for death find haven in Canada
80 per cent of pets euthanized in U.S. are healthy, says Humane Society
Maxwell is a wide-eyed, three-year-old, hyperactive Chihuahua. For a dog of his breed, his nervous behaviour is normal, but the tiny pup has another reason to be on edge this evening: he has travelled eight hours with 10 other dogs from Ohio to Whitby, Ont., and is about to get a bath.
Maxwell is what is known as a rescue — a dog that had been in a U.S. animal shelter that would have euthanized him if no new owner had come along — and his two-tone fur is bald in places where stress has left his skin exposed. He and his travel companions were driven across the Buffalo-Fort Erie border earlier this month by Susan Steiner and David McDonald, who run LotsaDogs Rescue out of their home in Whitby.
Steiner, who is, ironically, allergic to dogs, started the non-profit five years ago when she noticed a willingness on this side of the border to help unwanted and abused dogs. She has since placed over 1,400 dogs — most originating from so-called kill shelters in the U.S. — with new families in Canada.
"The reason we're bringing them in is because they're getting killed — end of story," she says. "I want the universe to be a really good universe for them."
She's not the only one who feels this way. In fact, Canada, known for its no-kill shelters, has increasingly become a haven for America's unwanted pets to escape death row. The U.S. Humane Society estimates that of the three million cats and dogs euthanized in the country each year 80 per cent are healthy or treatable and can be adopted. In Canada, only six per cent of the dogs and cats euthanized in 2013 were healthy, according to a survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
Transporting dogs over the border is not as simple as you might think. Besides the full day of driving, Steiner said there are many hurdles to clear before a van full of rescued dogs can cross the border. These pets fall under the commercial imports category, so rescue organizations must queue up with their trucks, sometimes for hours, and have an importing licence. They must also have the proper paperwork, including customs forms and proof of rabies vaccinations, and pay duties plus an inspection fee.
It's the latter, which is billed per dog, that Steiner objects to most.
"The dogs have no reason to be taxed. They don't have any value. I make nothing," she said.
Back in Whitby, Maxwell the chihuahua has yet to be adopted (Steiner said small breeds can take longer). Until then, he lays contently on the grass in the LotsaDogs Rescue yard, soaking up the sun.
U.S. rescue dogs destined for death find haven in Canada
80 per cent of pets euthanized in U.S. are healthy, says Humane Society
Maxwell is a wide-eyed, three-year-old, hyperactive Chihuahua. For a dog of his breed, his nervous behaviour is normal, but the tiny pup has another reason to be on edge this evening: he has travelled eight hours with 10 other dogs from Ohio to Whitby, Ont., and is about to get a bath.
Maxwell is what is known as a rescue — a dog that had been in a U.S. animal shelter that would have euthanized him if no new owner had come along — and his two-tone fur is bald in places where stress has left his skin exposed. He and his travel companions were driven across the Buffalo-Fort Erie border earlier this month by Susan Steiner and David McDonald, who run LotsaDogs Rescue out of their home in Whitby.
Steiner, who is, ironically, allergic to dogs, started the non-profit five years ago when she noticed a willingness on this side of the border to help unwanted and abused dogs. She has since placed over 1,400 dogs — most originating from so-called kill shelters in the U.S. — with new families in Canada.
"The reason we're bringing them in is because they're getting killed — end of story," she says. "I want the universe to be a really good universe for them."
She's not the only one who feels this way. In fact, Canada, known for its no-kill shelters, has increasingly become a haven for America's unwanted pets to escape death row. The U.S. Humane Society estimates that of the three million cats and dogs euthanized in the country each year 80 per cent are healthy or treatable and can be adopted. In Canada, only six per cent of the dogs and cats euthanized in 2013 were healthy, according to a survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
Transporting dogs over the border is not as simple as you might think. Besides the full day of driving, Steiner said there are many hurdles to clear before a van full of rescued dogs can cross the border. These pets fall under the commercial imports category, so rescue organizations must queue up with their trucks, sometimes for hours, and have an importing licence. They must also have the proper paperwork, including customs forms and proof of rabies vaccinations, and pay duties plus an inspection fee.
It's the latter, which is billed per dog, that Steiner objects to most.
"The dogs have no reason to be taxed. They don't have any value. I make nothing," she said.
Back in Whitby, Maxwell the chihuahua has yet to be adopted (Steiner said small breeds can take longer). Until then, he lays contently on the grass in the LotsaDogs Rescue yard, soaking up the sun.
