SEATTLE — Dozens of dogs and cats have made their way to Western Washington, escaping overcrowded shelters in southern California as the area reels from deadly wildfires that have claimed thousands of homes.
The effort was made possible through a group partnership between the Seattle Humane Society, Paws for Life K9 Rescue, Wings of Rescue, and the Pittie Project PNW. On Sunday afternoon, KIRO 7 captured the moment the plane, filled with 76 dogs and cats, landed at Boeing Field. The Seattle Humane Society took in 39 dogs and 18 cats and the Pittie Project PNW out of Bellingham took in 6 pit bulls.
“Love being able to help out all of these pets and help the city of Los Angeles,” Alison Waszmar with the Seattle Humane Society said.
Waszmar says the animals came from Paws for Life, a group that “saves and transforms the lives of animals and people through innovative canine-centered programs that provide purpose, support, and opportunity through the Prison/Re-Entry, People & Pet Innovation Center, First Responder and PTSD Support, Adoptions, Transports, and Vet Tech Program.”
Wings of Rescue President Ric Browde says it was vital for these organizations to get those animals out of the shelters and find safe places to take them in.
“We had to get them out of the shelter because they would’ve been euthanized to make room for the tidal wave of pets that are coming in who were displaced by the wildfires,” Browde said.
Pittie Project PNW President Ashley Georgia says they were supposed to take in 8, but two of the dogs weren’t medically cleared for that sort of travel. Georgia also says even before the wildfires, most shelters in southern California were overcrowded.
“The shelters were already bursting at the seams before these fires happened. What happens when pets are displaced down there is they have to make room for those pets,” Georgia said.
All groups involved with this operation say these sorts of drop-offs and relief work for these animals are just beginning.
“We aren’t in the aftermath. It’s all still going on. They need as much help and support as possible right now and we want to be there for them,” Georgia said.
“We are going to be doing five more flights that are on the books already and they’ll probably be going out for the next couple of months,” Browde said.
They’d both argue it’s necessary work.
“When these things are happening, it’s very important for everyone that can just come in and help because we are all really in this together,” Georgia said.
The Seattle Humane Society says the animals they just took in could be available for adoption as early as Tuesday, pending medical examination.
To learn more about these organizations or to get involved, visit the links below:
https://www.seattlehumane.org/
https://wingsofrescue.org/show-your-support/
https://www.thepittieprojectpnw.org/
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