KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Two to three hundred animals are euthanized a week in some parts of Kentucky due to overcrowding shelters and pounds, but there’s one organization right here in West Michigan trying to cut down on those statistics. In fact, they just made an overnight trip to save as many pets as they could fit into their van.
Animal Rescue Project in Kalamazoo is a primarily volunteer based organization. They've taken several rescue trips all around Michigan, Kentucky, and as far as Mexico. Even though it costs the organization more to make the rescues, including about $35 per dog per day for care, they say they’ll keep doing it over and over so animals have a chance at ending up with families.
Puppies comfortably snuggling with their litter, playing in their spacious kennels, and getting human attention are things none of the dogs ever knew existed.
“I don’t want to say really how bad it is, because it was hard for me not to cry when I saw some of the conditions at the pound,” said Bethany Mayuiurs, part of Animal Rescue Project in Kalamazoo.
Mayuiurs went on the journey Saturday to pick up as many dogs as they could from Kentucky pounds. They rescued 31 dogs and brought them back to Michigan.
“The pounds down there are bad,” said Jack Frost, operations director of Animal Rescue Project. "They are dark. They are dingy. They have an abundance of animals, so they can’t really keep that many for the sustained time as we do up here,. So they euthanize probably 200 to 300 weekly."
“Just a cement room with a light bulb there was no ventilation, and no light in their cages. It was awful,” said Mayuiurs.
Frost has seven rescue dogs of his own. He says not all these dogs came to them in good condition.
“Worms, upper respiratory, parasites ... we have five dogs that are heart worm positive right now."
The group's main priority is to give the dogs top notch care, holding them up to three to six weeks until they are healthy enough to be adopted.
“You keep them for three weeks, and you are looking at about $2,200 of care just for 31 animals. We want the absolute best for them, the best vaccines, the best care,” he said.
The dogs rescued Saturday range in age from new puppies to five years old.
Most of these puppies had no human or even dog contact before, so it's important to have them interact immediately, , Frost says. The group has seen changes in the dogs’ personalities almost overnight.
The end result is why Frost will continue making the rescues.
“I’ve been doing this for 15 years. The animals that you knew were on death's door that is now in a home with kids, well that is what we all strive for,” said Frost.
Animal Rescue Project is a private organization. They say 90 cents of every dollar goes directly to their animals. Just a ten dollar donation can provide heart worm preventative care. Every day, the shelter needs 50 loads of laundry done, 30 food bowls washed, 30 water bowls washed, 15 leashes used for walks, 25 kitty litter boxes cleaned, 25 toys given out, and 45 towels or blankets given out for warmth and bedding.
The puppies they just rescued will be ready to adopt in a few weeks. To find out how to adopt one or volunteer click here.
