When you think about it…saving lives is all you can think about.

Some people will go to great lengths to find forever homes for rescued animals.

Recently 1,200 rescued hens were flown from California to the East Coast for rescue. A book, titled Dogtripping, recently posted on the NHES website, relates the story of a couple who rescued dogs in Southern California and eventually moved 25 of those rescued dogs to Maine.

There are organizations like Pilots N Paws and Animal Rescue Flights, among many others, whose volunteers fly rescued animals around the country to find them forever homes.

Why do these people do this? Why do they spend their free time flying or driving rescued animals from one place to another to find them homes or sanctuaries where they can live out the remainder of their lives? What’s in it for them?

If you have to ask, then you probably won’t understand their answers. But those who do understand know that when you think about it…saving lives is all you can think about.

Saving Lives in Canada

The city of Kingston, Ontario only allows the sale of dogs, cats, and kittens in pet stores if they’ve been rescued from shelters or other animal welfare groups.

Paws Up!
To the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada for banning the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits in commercial pet stores.

According to a news story, “The city is moving ahead with a new bylaw to ban the sale of unsourced cats, dogs and rabbits in commercial pet stores. It would make Kingston only the third Ontario city to enact such a ban.”

Pet stores will be allowed to sell cats, dogs, and rabbits that are spayed/neutered and come from animal shelters and rescue groups.

Many animals sold in pet stores come from commercial breeding operations, also known as puppy mills. As more communities realize that purchasing animals from puppy mills is inhumane, more pet stores will support adoptions of animals from shelters and rescue groups. It’s a win for all the animals whose lives might otherwise have been lost.

Take Action: Residents of Kingston, contact your mayor and city council members and thank them for their actions. Residents of other communities, find out what plans your representatives have for protecting the animals in your community.