Source: Santa Bárbara County Animal Services
After the winter storm Uri wreaked havoc across the state of Texas, Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) responded to requests for help from animal shelters directly affected by freezing temperatures, ice and snow. With their owners trapped without power and water, thousands of Texas pets entered shelter during the aftermath of the storm. As a result of this rapid flow of animals to the shelters, dogs and cats that were there before the storm are now at risk of euthanasia due to limited space and depleted resources. Through extensive collaboration with animal welfare organizations, a goal was set to find safe transportation for 1,000 animals or more across state borders to free up critical space in Texas’ depleted shelters.
Taking the long journey from El Paso, 22 of these lucky dogs will arrive in Santa Barbara on Saturday night, March 6, 2021. The dogs selected for the trip range from 4 to 70 pounds and are healthy and sociable. Most importantly, the priority was to transfer dogs that really did not have a home or were at risk of euthanasia. According to SBCAS director Angela Yates, “As a municipal shelter, it is unusual to transfer animals from other jurisdictions, but in times of disaster and crisis, our network of animal shelters works together to save as many animals as possible. We are very grateful to be able to offer these 22 dogs a new and loving life in Santa Barbara! “
This transport is possible through SBCAS ‘partnership with CARE4Paws, Shadow’s Fund and Santa Barbara Animal Care Foundation, which has gathered their support and resources to help. El Paso Animal Services will transport the dogs to the Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, which has kindly offered to act as a transportation center to give these winter canine refugees a day of rest. SBCAS volunteers will make the exhaustive 18-hour round trip to the Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona, where the 22 dogs will be loaded and on their way to new life in our Santa Barbara community.
Ramon Herrera, Acting Director of El Paso Animal Services, stated: “Through this collaboration, we can offer these pets a greater chance of a loving home and we cannot thank SBCAS for being a life-saving partner”.
A team of employees and volunteers will receive the transport team on arrival at the Abrigo de Santa Bárbara, viaduct 5473 at around 7:00 pm. On Saturday night, dogs will rotate in our recreation yards, to ensure they have the opportunity to stretch their legs and acclimate to the new environment. All dogs will undergo a veterinary examination before being placed for adoption. Many of the Texas dogs will be available immediately and a special adoption event is planned for March 9, 2021: Texas Tuesday!
Anyone interested in giving one of these Texas dogs a home in California, visit https://countyofsb.org/phd/animal/texasdogadoption.sbc and fill out a form that is created specifically for these Texas dogs. Adoption appointments will be scheduled on Tuesday in Texas and throughout the week until all dogs find a loving home.
