It's official. The Richardson Animal Shelter has begun monthly transports as the newest shelter partner in PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’ — a program that transports adoptable dogs and puppies from populated shelters to animal shelters where there is more adoption space and more opportunities for a new home.

Dogs and puppies from the Richardson Animal Shelter board a PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’ vehicle every Friday at 9 a.m., en route to a central drop-off location at the SPCA of Texas. From the SPCA of Texas, the animals are transported to Wisconsin, where there are more opportunities for a new home. 

The Rescue Waggin’ program saves lives by humanely and safely transporting dogs and puppies from locations where there are more dogs than homes, to other communities where shelters have strong adoption programs, more adoption space and more potential adopters. 

As a new partner in the Rescue Waggin’ program, Richardson’s shelter is part of a national network of 60 animal shelters working together to help get more adoptable pets into good homes.

“The success of the Rescue Waggin’ program is evident in the participating shelters’ increased adoption numbers and significant reductions in euthanasia rates,” said Jan Wilkins, executive director, PetSmart Charities. “We welcome the Richardson Animal Shelter to the program and look forward to saving even more lives.”

On average, dogs and puppies are adopted within a week of their arrival at the new shelter. In addition, PetSmart Charities provides training, consultations, and capacity-building grants for Rescue Waggin’ shelters to expand spay/neuter services and improve shelter facilities and operations.

“This program is truly a win-win for everyone involved,” said Dennis Wooten, animal services manager at City of Richardson Animal Services Department. “To date, we have already transported more than 30 dogs and puppies to a destination shelter in Wisconsin where these animals found loving homes. The program is yet another example of how the City of Richardson identifies creative solutions and partnerships in order to better serve not only our human residents, but also the valued four-legged members of our community.”

PetSmart Charities’ Rescue Waggin’ program operates four routes across the U.S., providing shelters with a life-saving alternative to euthanasia. Nationally, more than 60,000 dogs have been saved since the Rescue Waggin’ program began in 2004. 

Information provided by the City of Richardson