The examiner.com wrote an excellent story about a couple shelter dogs in September of 2011. The story was written by Dena Stapleton and can be found here with more pictures.

Shelly came into the shelter in June and was very nervous and scared of everything. She was very sweet and just longed for attention. She was a Catahoula type girl with the most beautiful blue eyes that would make anyone do a double take just to look at them. Gibbs came to the shelter and was adopted, but after his adopters did to not have him neutered per their adoption agreement the shelter took him back. Gibbs was at the shelter about as long as Shelly. Gibbs is a Vizsla-mix and just a little guy but very sweet as well. Now being at Effingham Co. Animal Shelter in Springfield, GA, they were doing good but it is in fact a shelter that when they get to full they have to euthanize. In a perfect world they would not have to but in our society where people just discard a pet because it is not cute anymore, it tears up the yard, they cannot afford it or just because they don’t want it anymore; euthanasia is not only sad but required.

Here the girls of Effingham Co Animal Shelter are posing one last time with Gibbs and Shelly. Credit: Dena Stapleton

The girls (Sonya, April and Elizabeth) at the shelter started marketing the dogs, as they always do. Volunteers started marketing them too on Facebook, by emails and even just plain word of mouth. A shelter in Illinois named Catahoula Rescue, Inc of Illinois took note. Here Heidi saw Shelly and had to have her. She communicated with April and all was good to get her but one problem; transportation. She needed to get from Springfield, GA to Lumpkin County, GA which was about 6 hours away by car. At this same time another rescue called Atlanta Vizsla & Weimraner Rescue right outside the Northwest Atlanta area wanted Gibbs. Again all was good and paperwork was in order but no transportation. That trip was about 5+ hours away by car. The shelter tried for several weeks to get ground transportation together but no one was available.

Gibbs playing with a foster-mate. Gibbs in the one on the floor. Credit: Courtesy of Alina Kinder

A volunteer, Dena, suggested Pilots-n-Paws as she knew a pilot that did numerous flights for dogs. Dena called James to see about a flight but his plane was down from a dog transport the previous weekend. We scheduled it temporarily for the following weekend so he could do the necessary repairs and such. Then it came apparent that the plane would not be fixed in time and we had to look for another source. These poor babies were still at the shelter waiting for their ride. The shelter had in the mean time gotten Gibbs neutered, which was requested by the rescue before transport. James knew he would not be able to get the repair done and these babies needed out so he referred his friend Rob to do the flight. This was on a Tuesday and by that Friday Spetmeber 2nd, Pilot Rob was on his way to Savannah Aviation while Dena brought both dogs to him for their travels.

Upon getting to the airport Dena made sure both dogs had been walked, that they had received potty breaks and plenty of kisses to say good-bye. When Pilot Rob got there he greeted the dogs and they loaded them up into a soft crate for them to be safe in. Since both dogs were very good with one another, they got to ride together in the soft crate. Upon getting into the plane, they both just laid right down and settled in for their flight. Gibbs was dropped off first at the McCollum Airport where Alina was waiting to greet him. She took him home to clean him up before going to his new fur-ever home. Then Shelly was loaded back up after her potty break and she was taken to the Wimpy County Airport to meet Elissa. Elissa took her home as a foster until her next transport (ground) was to be arranged to get her to Illinois where Heidi is. Elissa workouts like a half-way foster home for the Florida and Georgia dogs on their way to the Catahoula Rescue. Elissa had her spayed and microchipped while with her. That next Saturday the 10th Amanda and Kellie (with Catahoula Rescue Illinois) were transporting other dogs from Florida and Georgia to Illinois they stopped by Elissa’s to get Shelly. Shelly is now in Illinois being fostered by Heidi until she gets into her new fur-ever home.

Shelly with Pilot Rob when dropping her off to Elissa. Credit: Courtesy of Elissa Dunn

Once they got into their new surroundings, they were bathed and loved on for hours. Shelly is doing great in her foster home and adjusting well to a home life. She has her own crate that is her little den and when she is overwhelmed or just tired, she goes in and sleeps. She is a little nervous with her foster-mates but she is adjusting well. She is a great girl and will do just fine. Elissa said, “She’s very much in love with her crate, and is in there every chance she gets. She also seems to be housetrained, which is fantastic, especially considering how long she was at the shelter.” On another note when Gibbs was getting ready for his new fur-ever home, the adopters backed out at the last minute. This happens in rescue all too well. That is ok though, as Gibbs stayed at Alina’s for the weekend and went to his foster home after that. He is adjusting to his new foster home very well as he is having an absolute ball playing with the other Vizsla’s like him. He will sit tight for a bit but another fur-ever home will come.