Dogster’s Spay and Neuter Program (D-SNiP)
970-759-5676
10 Town Plaza, #115
Durango, CO 81301
Katrina Pets Land in Durango
Pets from New Orleans arrived at the La Plata County Airport in fall 2005 to be greeted by dozens of southwestern Colorado volunteers. In all, 68 dogs and 32 cats were flown to Durango from Louisiana animal shelters, which were overcrowded with pets rescued from flooded neighborhoods. The effort was coordinated by the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs and D-SNiP, with help from the La Plata County Humane Society.
About 40 local volunteers provided the weary travelers with water, treats, collars and leashes, medical care, and baths, where needed. Area veterinarians, vet techs, and a physician donated their time to microchip dogs, and provide checkups and onsite medical care. All the displaced pets were photographed, with their pertinent information entered into laptops and posted on Petfinder.com.
Foster families from Pagosa Springs to Telluride whisked most of the dogs off to the comforts of home. The cats were quarantined for feline leukemia testing, then were sent to foster homes after a clean bill of health.
Left: Volunteer Laura Rickard comforts a
young puppy upon its arrival.
Right: Volunteers unload dogs and cats at the airport.
Left: Volunteer Dr. James Irish (right)
microchips a Rottweiler.
Right: Volunteers keep all of the animals hydrated.
Left: Two dogs (the one on the left was
name "Hope Floats") wait patiently
to be processed after arriving in Durango.
Right: Affection was just what the doctor ordered.
Left: Volunteers unload pets in crates from
the donated jet.
Right: D-SNiP board member Cynthia Stengel comforts Sugar, a
Rottweiler
who was eventually returned to her family.
Photos by Ann Bond