As our supporters and friends know, Cape Ann Animal Aid has been operating on all fronts these past two months. From donation drives to fundraising pleas for help, we continue to do all that we can to send supplies and accommodate increased intake from rescue partners in regions recently hit by hurricanes. While this goal was ambitious, and left our shelter filled to over 50% of our average capacity, we have the support of many to thank for helping to make it all happen. To date, we have been able to take in animals from St. Croix, Turks and Caicos, Texas, and Puerto Rico – with more rescue trips in the works.

But in the midst of all of this, we were compelled to maintain our previously scheduled rescue transport trips with partner shelters in other regions of the United States. These groups were not directly impacted by the hurricanes, but they were and are still facing an up-hill battle in regards to animal overpopulation and high euthanasia rates. These rescue partners in Georgia and Louisiana were still counting on us and we couldn’t let them down.

Thankfully, Cape Ann Animal Aid was recently awarded an $8,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to support our Safe Harbor Transportation Program. The purpose of this grant was to help us extend our animal lifesaving efforts and serve the Petco Foundation’s mission to raise the quality of life for pets and people who love and need them. Thanks to this funding support, we were able to uphold our previously-scheduled transport plans, saving 66 animals from Louisiana and Georgia since September 1st. We send deepest thanks to the Petco Foundation for believing in our mission and investing in this important work.

At the end of September, two of our staff members, Kayla and Jacquie, set out on one of these transport pick ups, coordinated in partnership with Sweet Paws Rescue. They drove over 650 miles to the meeting point in Virginia and returned to Massachusetts with 15 dogs and 3 cats from Louisiana. This trip included nursing mama, Foxy, and her seven puppies (seen below).

For more information about the Petco Foundation, visit www.petcofoundation.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by using the hashtag #PetcoFoundation.

Last week, Cape Ann Animal Aid joined forces with several Massachusetts rescue groups and shelters, in partnership with All Sato Rescue, to save over 180 animals from Puerto Rico (see video below).

We were honored to be a part of this life-changing transport and we send thanks to all who made it possible, including Wings of Rescue, Mission Miracle K-9 Rescue and ILoveMyDogSoMuch.com. In addition, we send special thanks to our supporters, many of whom made donations towards the fuel expense for this trip. The outpouring of love, support, and interest in these animals has been overwhelming and truly heart-warming.

We welcomed six cats and eleven dogs from this transport here at our Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter. We gave them a few days to settle in and relax. Tomorrow, many will get spayed/neutered. We expect that they will be available for adoption later this week or this weekend so keep an eye on our website. They are looking forward to meeting you all very soon!

DONATION DRIVE UPDATE
There will never be enough words to thank you all for hearing our call for help and responding immediately with donations to help our rescue partners in hurricane-hit regions.