Written by: Jaymi Firestone
The staggering statistics of dogs becoming homeless has continued to grow over the years. It is estimated that only 1 out of every 10 dogs born in the United States will have a permanent home. Because of this, approximately 2.7 million dogs (and cats) are euthanized in shelters every year. Shelters become too full and there aren’t enough pet adoptions happening to make this number diminish.
There are some organizations however, that are attempting to educate the public and help find homes for these animals.
Dog Is My Co-Pilot (DIMC) is an organization that does just that. And on Monday, September 3, the Jackson Hole, Wyoming based organization provided air transportation to 35+ dogs from our local shelter. The animals were flown to Colorado and Utah to be adopted by residents in those states.
The dogs from our area shelter were the first for DIMC to be transported via flight. However there have been weekly ground transports. They are taken to different areas in Colorado and Utah, placed in foster homes, and eventually adopted.
It is a second chance for animals that have had a rough life prior. The transport is an opportunity for the dogs to receive a new lease on life.
The flight on Monday provided the opportunity for over 100 dogs from Eastern New Mexico (Clovis, Hobbs, and Roswell) to be transported to areas where pet adoption is in higher demand, ultimately saving their lives. DIMC attempts to get these dogs adopted within the same week of the flight. The goal is to take the animals to a no-kill facility that will never euthanize a healthy animal. This allows the dogs to find the perfect forever home.
Our local animal shelters are overrun with stray and abandoned animals, to the point that there is no more room. Sadly, this is when euthanization occurs because adoptions just simply are not happening often enough to prevent over crowding.
Our local Animal Shelter takes in 15 or more animals per week. The problem is not just in Clovis/Portales though. It’s a nationwide issue.
Organizations like DIMC want to not only help save dogs from shelters, but want to spread awareness to pet owners about spaying and neutering their animals.
Only 10% of animals shelters around the country receive have been spayed or neutered. This is causing incredible overpopulation. According to One Green Planet, one un-spayed female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just 6 years. That number is staggering, and is easily preventable with proper care of pets.
It’s important to consider that with the proper education, our area alone can prevent 15+ dogs a week from becoming another heartbreaking statistic.
Contact our local Humane Society today to look into getting a dog (or cat) out of our shelters and into a forever home.
