WeSNIP NEWS

May 17, 2011

Kendall

As part of Wesnip’s mission, we are specific which clients we serve. This is very important as far as reducing the euthanasia of healthy adoptable animals in Whatcom County. These clients have financial situations, permanent or temporary, that make them unable to avail themselves of the services provided by the many high-quality veterinary practices in our area. We find these people by servicing certain areas where there is an overpopulation of stray or abandoned animals. We receive this information from rescue organizations and animal control services. Our customers who live in these areas are the disabled, the working poor, and people who are on public assistance. We carefully screen these clients. They also include compassionate residents in these areas who rescue and provide for animals that have been abandoned -- many pregnant or with offspring. Some of this specific clientele have no personal transportation and ride the bus.

Kendall is one of these areas. Because of Wesnip’s current financial situation, animals were transported by volunteers instead of taking the Station to Kendall.

Please donate so that WeSNIP can continue to help those in our community who are less fortunate and need to spay/neuter their pets.

Dianne, Jon, Michael, Patricia and Joy made a caravan to and from Kendall, transporting 30 dogs and kitties. Rebecca went along to do the morning registration and Chris made preparations at the Spay Station, parked at Petco. This was the first all-transport day WeSNIP had ever planned. Kudos to Patricia and Chris for planning the logistics and scheduling the appointments.

The transport volunteers met at the Nugent’s Corner IGA at 6:00 am. Corey and Patricia had distributed specifically-designed flyers in the Kendall area two weeks before and their efforts paid off. When the volunteers arrived at the Starvin’ Sam’s in Kendall, some families were already in the parking lot. Patricia and Rebecca began registration.

Families had made appointments and EVERYONE arrived on time. Eight month-old brothers Jessie and Jasper peered out of their carrier. Their owner had seen flyers for the pickup/delivery. Some of her other animals have already had surgery on the Spay Station.

The door on Lucky’s carrier was ajar and he made a break for the woods. Everybody was wondering if he was going to be “lucky” that day. Although semi-feral, he came to his mom and Dianne helped her get him into another carrier.

Oscar, the eight-month old tabby, was found at his owner’s workplace. Like Jesse and Jasper's owner, he had had another kitty spayed on the Spay Station last year. Kitty carriers were covered to make the ride more comfortable and then were loaded into Dianne’s truck.

Max, the six month-old Chiweenie, and gentle giant Hercules were standby dogs and will have surgery another day as the schedule was full.

Siamese kitten, Whitey, found a new home while waiting in the parking lot. His siblings, Victoria, Bella, Charlie, and Peanut were surrendered to WeSNIP and Joy took them to a rescue organization. Michael carried a cage full of wiggly pitbull puppies to Jon’s waiting truck.

Michael helped get a large dog into a carrier and on the truck. After all the kitties and dogs were boarded, the caravan volunteers drove to the parking lot at the Petco store.

The Spay Station staff had the station prepared. Chris met the volunteers and went over registration forms with Michael and Patricia.

Vet Tech Kathryn met Michael, Patricia, and Chris as the first kitty was unloaded. The vet staff evaluated the cute pitbull puppies. The female was spayed, but the two boys weren’t physically mature enough yet. Since they were yowling and howling, the staff begged Joy to take them home. They played and napped all day in her bathroom.

Jon handed dogs to the waiting volunteers. Michael coaxed sweet Rosie from the back of his car as Chris looked on.

Chris matched registration forms with kitty carriers before boarding onto the Spay Station. Vet Assistant Mindy also verified names as boarding began.

Chris continued registration form verification as the Spay Station staff boarded the animals. Patricia looked on smiling – glad that the people in Kendall were getting help with their animals.

Jon and Dianne’s large truck proved invaluable for transporting the large dogs. They use the truck for carrying their Neo WEAR dog products. http://www.neodogwear.com

Dianne and Jon carried the last big dog carrier as Rosie took a last pee break with Kathryn.

At about 3:00, the surgeries were completed and Kathryn took carriers onboard to start crating animals. Michel wore a T-shirt that summed up the day.

Rosie was afraid of the carrier so Jon helped load her in the back of Michael’s car. Two of the several lab/lab-mix large dogs were loaded in carriers for the ride home. Many of these dogs are related because families have unneutered/spayed dogs and give puppies to family and neighbors.

The transport volunteers left Bellingham and arrived at Starvin’ Sams at about 5:00.

All agreed that the drive back to Kendall, up the Mt. Baker Highway, was spectacular on the Spring afternoon.

The families were waiting in the parking lot and Patricia gave general post-operative instructions. Each family received individual instructions as the animals were discharged.

Whatcom Farmer’s CO-OP donated kitty and dog food. Patricia handed it out as the families picked up their animals.

The staff unloaded kitties and reunited them with their families. Individual instructions and medications were attached to each carrier. Jessie and Jasper were a little dozy as their family picked them up. A family with six kitties called to say their truck had broken down. Patricia and Michael delivered the kitties to their home.

One of the big dogs went home with his family. Rosie’s owner picked her up. Rayne’s owner had brought her with him on the bus. He was planning to take her on the bus again, but Dianne volunteered to give them a ride home.

The little female pitbull was the last to leave for home and a little dozy on the ride.

Many thanks to the transport volunteers especially Michael, Dianne, and Jon for the use of their car and trucks. And thanks also goes to the Whatcom Farmer’s CO-OP for the food donation.

and to the Bellingham Petco & the Kendall Starvin’ Sam’s for the use of their parking lots.

All the transport volunteers had such a meaningful and fun day that they said they will help with the next transport day!!! Volunteers are always needed.