Barlee’s Angels Rescue Network of Guelph has taken on a large-scale rescue and adoption campaign for as many as 50 dogs from Mississippi. The animals, most under one year of age, are all in danger of being euthanized.
The dogs come from what is described by Barlee’s Angels founding director Jennifer Windh as a “high-kill shelter” in the southern state, a shelter that is under investigation and temporarily closing later this month. The Barlee’s operation is called The Southern Orphan.
Windh said any dogs not rescued prior to Feb. 17 will be euthanized by a cardiac puncture – a direct needle in the heart. In the early stages of The Southern Orphan it appears that Ontario shelters have been found for most of the dogs.
Windh said in an interview that more than $10,000 will be needed for veterinary, transportation and other costs. This isn’t the largest rescue the Guelph-based organization has undertaken, but it might be the most time sensitive.
“There is definitely a sense of urgency involved in this one,” Windh said. “In that sense we haven’t taken on something this huge before, with this kind of timeline. The lives of all of these dogs are in jeopardy. They were all going to be euthanized by an injection directly into the heart while they are conscious.”
Barlee's heard about the situation through its networks and took immediate steps to get the threatened dogs catalogued and photographed. It launched an aggressive foster/adoption drive for the dogs, assisted other shelters in the effort, and began a fundraising campaign to raise the thousands of dollars needed to cover expenses.
Information about how you can donate is available on the Barlee's Angels website
A Gofundme campaign has been started by a Barlee’s Angels supporter at www.gofundme.com/40dogs.
Windh said the shelter is under investigation for alleged cruelty to animals by staff who perform euthanization.
Barlee’s Angels’ plan is to rent a vehicle and transport the dogs from Mississippi to Ohio, where the organization is familiar with the rescue services in one part of that state. All dogs will be vetted and examined, spayed or neutered if necessary, heartworm tested, and more.
It appears one of the dogs may be pregnant, and another has an injury on its head.
“We put the word out and we have had an incredibly overwhelming response from other shelters and rescues,” Windh said. “Some can take one or two, others can take five or six. It looks like we have shelter spots for them, but all will need forever homes.”
Finding foster homes for the dogs is the biggest need at this time. Anyone that is interested in giving a dog a home can get started by visiting the organization’s website at www.barlees.ca and submitting an online application. Be sure to indicate whether you want to foster or adopt.
Anyone that is able to help with the transportation of the dogs to foster homes is asked to contact Barlee’s through its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/barlees/.
“Provided there is no major medical expenses, this is going to be in the neighbourhood of a $10,000 to $15,000 effort,” Windh added. “It’s very expensive to do an ethical rescue.”
Some of those expenses will be offset by adoption donations once homes are found, she said.
