The Freedom Train covers many states. There is a main focus on sending animals from the south to the northeast; however transports are often coordinated for other states outside of that region. Many times there may be rescues that have approved placement for animals without having a way to send them. In these cases, animal rescue transports play a vital role in assisting those animals to get to freedom and a new life. Saving these animals is a team effort, and when we work together, miracles can happen!

The transports are broken down into “legs”, which are intervals of about 60-90 miles in length, one way. According to how many animals and their sizes, there may be between one and three vehicles needed on each leg. Transporters drive their legs, then hand off the animals to the next driver(s) at the next interval, in relay style, until the destination is reached. Many times, furkids are overnighted and then continue their journey the next day.

Screening is very important. Each receiver, whether it be rescue or forever home, is screened thoroughly before they are approved to receive any furkids riding the Freedom Train. The well-being of each animal is of the utmost importance and not treated lightly. All updates received on the furkids are shared with the transport angels who helped get them to their destinations!

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa Inc. (ARL) is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for many thousands of pets each year. The ARL serves people and pets from across the state of Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more.

History
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) has grown dramatically since its founding in 1926 — expanding its programs that serve both people and homeless animals across Iowa. The most obvious growth is the number of animals the ARL provides shelter and care for each year. Intakes have increased annually from a few thousand animals a decade ago to over 19,000 animals in 2008.

Other areas of growth include the ARL’s programs designed specifically to address the reasons animals end up in shelters, including spay/neuter, behavior training, and humane education programs. For example, the ARL’s humane education program does more than offer classroom presentations and tours to community groups and schools. The ARL also has a theatrical presentation for assembly presentations to large groups of students including entire schools as well as a mobile puppet show. The ARL’s positive reinforcement training program has expanded to offer year-round classes, as well as free behavior advice for dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets. The behavior program has also started a collaboration with the state prison system, where inmates help teach basic manners to dogs and cats to increase the pets’ adoptability. The shelter continues to spay and neuter all dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and pigs that are adopted from our shelter — some 5,000 animals annually. Addit ionally, the ARL offers a Spay the Mother program, where free dog/cat spay certificates are provided to owners so they can spay their pets and prevent future unwanted litters.

In addition to the animals that come through the ARL’s doors, the ARL also serves the people of Iowa through its many services. For example, in 2008…

* 10,000+ stray animals were brought to the ARL from more than 61 counties and 16 states.
* 7,000+ people were provided humane education programs and/or animal assisted therapy.
* 5,000+ people received pet behavior counseling or training from the ARL.
* 4,900+ individuals or families adopted pets from the ARL.
* 1,955 families reclaimed their lost pets from the ARL.
* 1,216 adults and children volunteered their time to help the animals.
* 850+ people from across Iowa reported suspected cases of animal abuse or neglect to the ARL’s cruelty intervention coordinator. The intervention coordinator helps provide appropriate intervention by educating individuals on proper care and treatment of their animals and working with local law enforcement to initiate legal intervention on animals’ behalf. Our coordinator has responded to calls from 68 counties.

As well as being wonderful companions, dogs are amazing teachers and we’ve learned so much from them…first and foremost that they all deserve a chance at a better life and their behavior will balance beautifully if their needs are meet and good leadership is applied. These pups will be the most grateful creatures you’ve encountered. We rescue our furry friends from area shelters, humane societies and Mexico as they are at risk of being euthanized and/or abandoned.

We are a small organization with a handful of key volunteers and we are just getting started as a 501c3 non-profit. We need both people and donations to help our furry friends, so we’d be grateful for either.

Patti Cake, my original foster dog, is among The Barking Lot residents as I couldn’t possibly have given her up & I’m fortunate to call her mine! Yes, I’m proud to report I was a failed foster my first go around!!

Southern California Keeshond Rescue, Inc. is a small 100% volunteer, non-profit 501c3 charitable organization that provides rescue services to many Keeshond dogs. We work with potential adoptive families to find each dog the right forever home. We do not have a shelter where people can come to meet dogs–our dogs are shown by appointment only to approved adopters. We foster the dogs in the homes of our rescue volunteers throughout Southern California, who provide the dogs with food, shelter, grooming, attention, and other care needed for their well being. We have all rescue dogs examined by a veterinarian, spayed or neutered, immunized, and tested for heart worms. We provide treatment for known illnesses or medical problems on a case by case basis.

We match our dogs with their new people very carefully, according to the needs and personalities of both. We take into consideration such factors as family structure (children and their ages, etc.), other pets, the type of home (house, apartment, etc.), the kinds of things the people like to do with their dog, etc. We utilize the adoption also do a home visit, which allows us to get to know you a little better and helps us match the right dog with the home.

The following was written by one of our volunteers. We feel it captures the essence of The Brittany Foundation:

“I chose to give my time and energy to Brittany for multiple reasons. First, they are an all breed dog rescue. All dogs deserve a chance no matter what shape or size. Second, Brittany doesn’t just rescue adoptable dogs – it takes the old, disabled and problem dogs that other groups pass over at the shelter. Third, Brittany is a vocation – it is not a business. It was founded on the principal of no kill and all that goes with it – medical care, training, rehabilitation, and a loving, comfortable home for life unless a family adopts.

“Brittany Foundation spends all donations on the dogs. There are no expense accounts, meals and other padding to the budget. Nancy, the founder, works tirelessly caring for the dogs – feeding, grooming, training and giving the dogs a comfortable and caring environment.

“Nancy and the other Brittany volunteers inspire me to do more because they do so much – day in and day out – for the dogs that others have thrown away. Brittany is a piece of what is right and good in our world and I needed to be a part of it.”