OLIVE BRANCH, MS - 95 dogs rescued from a suspected Mississippi puppy mill have a second chance at life. They've been fed, groomed and nursed back to health. And for 34 of the pups, it's up, up and away to their brand new homes.
From kennel to crate and from crate to van, the dogs were gently packed up from their cages at an emergency shelter in Byhalia for their big move out East. Each dog, carefully recorded on a travel log before their journey.
"This is a flight manifest," says Allison Cardona, Director of Operations for the ASPCA, "on their private flight from Olive Branch, Mississippi to Farmingdale, Long Island with the ultimate destination of New York City."
"The plane that they're flying on," says Kelley Weir of the American Humane Association, "is made just for pets. And it also has an onboard vet tech so they can keep track of the pets' health through the whole ride."
The dogs have already been on a wild ride, rescued Thursday, February 4, 2010, from a suspected puppy mill in Holly Springs. They were in the worst shape, malnourished, with matted fur, and some were in great pain.
One little chihuahua, nicknamed "Mamacita" by her rescuers, was still being bred by her keepers even though her pelvis is broken.
"She's our favorite," a rescuer tells myEyewitnessNews.com. "She's kind of our poster child. She's a sweetheart and she's very resilient."
All of the four-legged survivors will travel on a private plane provided by Pet Airways. The animals even have their own flight attendant. Steve Hansen will make sure they have water and plenty of attention.
"Their safety is our priority," says Hansen. "I make it my job to go and give them comfort and love while they're in the air."
It took real, and rare, teamwork between the ASPCA and the American Humane Association to make this rescue happen.
"Collaboration between animal organizations," says AHA spokesperson Weir, "didn't happen a few years ago. And this is a great example of how it's happening now."
"It's so heartwarming," says the ASPCA's Cardona, "at the end of these rescues to see them go on to a better life. We're happy to give them this opportunity to start on a second chance. They deserve it."
As the plane taxied down the runway at the Olive Branch airport, there were cheers and tears.
"Tears of joy," says one rescuer, as 34 dogs from Mississippi head to new adventures in The Big Apple.
The Atlanta Human Society took another 35 dogs. Local animal groups in Mississippi are caring for the rest.
At last check, the Marshall County Sheriff's Department had not filed any charges against the couple accused of running the puppy mill.
