How Dogs Get Here



Many people ask us how our dogs get to Victoria - here's how we do it:

 

Our dogs come to us in a variety of different ways. Usually it starts with our partners in California and Alabama visiting local shelters (Madera County Shelter in California shown on left) and checking the daily euthanasia lists. Some shelters advertise the dogs when they are on their last day and these are the dogs we try to rescue. Some dogs come to us via other rescues such as Rescue K911 in Camp Hill, Alabama.

We have developed good relationships with many of the staff and volunteers at the shelters and often they will contact us with a favourite dog to see if we can accept it into our program.
While at the shelter our rescue coordinators will discuss the available dogs with the shelter manager and view those that have been there the longest. Some of the shelters house literally hundreds of dogs.

We then assess which ones would be suitable for our program. Once the determination is made as to which dogs we are taking, they are transported to a local veterinarian for a thorough examination and treatment (Dr. Dumars from Pet Medical in Fresno is shown on the right examining Honey's X-ray).
The dogs are vaccinated, tested for parasites, wormed and scheduled for their spaying/neutering (Blossom shown on left just after being rescued). The dogs see the vet regularly as they require health certificates and check ups before shipping.

Prior to shipping, the dogs are fostered and during that period they are assessed, bathed, treated for fleas, groomed and given lots of love and attention. Many go to doggie daycare for socialization and some receive training. Once we have a good assessment of the animal we post the dogs’ pictures and biographies on our website.

When there are three or four dogs ready for transportation, arrangements are made through Air Canada (for the dogs from California) or Alaska Airlines (for the dogs from Alabama). (Jana Huey is shown on the right making arrangements with Air Canada in San Francisco to ship some dogs).

We purchase airline kennels and supplies for the dogs’ journey and the dogs are flown to either Victoria or Vancouver where one of the Dog Bless board members meet them and welcomes them to Canada.