Texas shelters currently euthanize more animals than any other state, with more than 114,000 animals killed in 2018 alone. In addition to fundraising and networking, a large part of our lifesaving work is leveraging our relationships across the country to coordinate lifesaving transports out of state.
While our long-term aim is to use positive messaging to create community change in Texas, we can save more animals’ lives now by moving them to parts of the country where adopters are ready and waiting to welcome these animals into their homes.
Our transport program began in 2017, following our discovery that there was an unmet demand for dogs in Kansas City, while the Harris County Animal Shelter euthanized dogs due to lack of space. In the first year of our program, we transported 79 animals from HCAS to Kansas. In 2018, we transported another 76 animals to a growing number of shelter and rescue partners.
Since that time, we’ve been able to expand our transport program through our collaboration with Rescue the Animals of Abilene, Best Friends Animal Society of Houston and Best Friends Coalition to Save Houston’s Pets. As of this writing, in the first three quarters of 2019, we’ve already transported 388 animals from Houston and Abilene to new lives out of state.
This lifesaving work is only possible through the support of members of the community like you. These dogs need your help to get a fresh start in a new state. Read on to find out how you can get involved with transports out of Houston or Abilene to rescue groups and no-kill shelters in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.
Are you ready to foster? Shelters need your help! Watch our Facebook page for posts of those animals in need of foster care. As little as one week in your home can be the difference between life and death for animals in urgent need.
Whether you live in Texas or out of state, you can get involved as a foster:
Please contact us directly or one of our transport rescue partners for foster information:
We need fosters in the NW Indiana and Greater Chicagoland area. Available fosters in IN and IL allow us to pull more animals from Texas on to our transports. If you are able to foster please fill out this form and a Day of the Dogs team member will reach out to you.
Are you ready for a road trip? Take animals on their freedom ride, where you and a co-pilot drive the van and Day of the Dogs provides you with gas, food and hotel reservations along the way. You’ll have volunteer or staff support to load and unload animals at your destination.
We’re currently recruiting drivers for the following routes:
Transports are costly. Your sponsorship can help defray the costs of transport – no matter where you live.
Coordinating a transport is a lot of work, and we’re all volunteers! You can help out in person or behind the scenes to make transports a success. Get in touch if you can volunteer your time to make these transports successful.
We’re currently recruiting for volunteers in the following areas:
It takes a village to make lifesaving possible! Below you’ll find a list of our local Texas partners and those who receive animals via transport out of state.
Jasper County Animal Rescue League
Day of the Dogs (DOTD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to reducing euthanasia of homeless animals in shelters. Our focus at this time is the Harris County Animal Shelter in Houston, TX
