A Weeknight Dog Rescue Transport

Monday brought a call for transportation for Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue, and we answered the call. One dachshund that was rescued named Sami had back surgery (likely caused after jumping off a chair or couch and injuring his back) at a veterinary hospital in Catonsville, Md. The other, Happy, came directly from the Baltimore Shelter.

Happy, the long-haired dachshund

A TEAM EFFORT -  All of the people that work as volunteers for the rescue give their own time, spend their own money on gas, and freely give their time. One such amazing person is Shelley S. She agreed to go to the vet hospital (even though it was over an hour away from where she lives) at the end of her work day and get Sami at the Vet hospital. She also picked up Happy from the Shelter (and stopped to bathe him because she said he desperately needed it).Happy is a long-haired, black dachshund and looked pretty shaggy.

MAKING A PLAN - Trying to figure out the logistics and getting the two dogs from one place to another takes some work. The dogs ultimately had to be delivered to central Virginia that night and there were 4 volunteers that were ready: Shelley going to Baltimore, me (Rob), Kristin (in Columbia) and Katie (in Virginia). I suggested a 3 team transport, so Kristin didn't have to join in this time (she's always helping- including at this weekend's dog event).

Shelley drove them (each in their own crate) from Baltimore (Catonsville is next to Baltimore) and would be driving back toward the northern part of Washington, DC, so I met her at IKEA in College Park between 5 and 5:30 p.m.  - I raced home to try and help Tom rescue a neighbor's dog who was accidentally left out in the cold, and then headed to Virginia. The Washington, D.C. Beltway slowed to a stop before Northern Virginia, so I had to get off the highway and go a back way (I knew of thanks to our friend Jeff), which I took to get to the drop off in Springfield, VA. Of course, the drop off was at a Dunkin' Donuts. 

Katie drove up from central Virginia and took Happy and Sami and brought them back to her home where they will go to foster homes. Katie had the flu and I have a bad cold, so we were both groggy from cold/flu medicine. That's where the coffee helped.

HAPPY ENDINGS -  Shelley said that when she picked up Sami at the hospital, he was already standing up, so that was a great sign that he'll be able to walk again after his back surgery. Another good ending for two innocent dogs!