Update February 20, 2007

IDA’s Connie Durkee Takes Another Lifesaving Road Trip to Waveland Shelter

I am lucky enough to have been given the opportunity by IDA to participate in yet another transport of dogs and cats out of Mississippi. This will be the seventh transport I’ve been a part of since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2006. Jackie Broome, DVM and her assistant Sherry agreed to meet my sister Peggy and I in Phoenix this time because Denver seemed too precarious due to possible adverse weather conditions.

We met at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, February 10th, in Phoenix. Dr. Broome and Sherry had a five-horse trailer hooked up to their truck loaded with 19 dogs and 21 cats, three of which were five-day old kittens with their mom. We proceeded to walk all the dogs, clean up the cats and give everyone food and water. Peggy and I were on the road with our precious cargo by 10:15 a.m.

We drove through the night, stopping only once at a rest area for an hour and a half of sleep and arrived at my mom’s house in Camas, Wash. on Sunday morning around 10 in the morning. My mom has a big barn and we were able to drive our loaded van into her barn and, with the help of my mom, my brother and sister-in-law, we let the dogs, two at a time, run around the barn and get some good exercise. We were also able to feed and water all the cats without fear of them escaping. It was a dream to have such a good place to feed, water and exercise our new friends.

We left my mom’s about half past noon and arrived at our first rescue in the Seattle area around 3:45 p.m.. We were done delivering our precious cargo by six o’clock on Sunday evening and headed to my brother’s house to spend the night. After finally hitting the hay Sunday night, my sister and I both slept until two in the afternoon on Monday.

People always ask me, “Where do these pets come from and where do you take them?” Most of these dogs and cats were relinquished by their guardians. People in Mississippi are still displaced, with many still living in trailers and unable to care for themselves, let alone an animal companion. Many are the offspring of dogs and cats left homeless after Katrina, as there are no spay/neuter programs in place where these animals come from. We deliver them to rescue groups that have graciously agreed to take them in, clean them up and find them loving, forever homes.

This time we took dogs and cats to several shelters in Washington State: PAWS of Lynnwood, Whatcom Humane Society in Bellingham and Downtown Dog Lounge in Seattle. These rescue groups are always excited to receive their southern friends and there is always a lot interest from local people wanting to adopt them. I am extremely grateful to these groups for helping these dogs and cats. I couldn’t do these transports without their support. We are planning another transport for April.