DeKalb Animals Shipped to New Shelters

Dozens of Atlanta-area pets are heading north to find new homes.

It's part of an effort by the Friends of DeKalb Animals , which has begun shipping some shelter dogs to other facilities.

It's moving day for 15 dogs -- this group preparing for a 16 hour ride to Connecticut.

"They're usually asleep when the vehicle's moving, but it is a long trip and it can be tiring," said Chrissy Kaczinski of Friends of DeKalb Animals

Thursday, another 15 dogs will be leaving the DeKalb animal shelter en route to an animal rescue facility in New Jersey
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"Stop along the way, water them, walk them, some get carsick, but over it usually goes smoothly," said Kaczinski.

For the folks at this shelter it's a case of supply and demand -- an over abundance of pets available for adoption and shelters in the northeast who are looking for animals.

"They have better adoption rates in the northeast, stricter spay and neuter laws, dogs who are down here, stuck in a shelter for a month get adopted in a matter of weeks once they arrive up there," said Kaczinski.

The DeKalb facility says this is one way of tackling problems of animal overpopulation humanely -- the facility is not a no-kill shelter, so without shipping some of its dogs to other state's facilities, many of these pets would have to be put down.

"The dogs either go out of here in the front door, or they go out the back door in in a black plastic bag. It gives them a great sense of hope to see that end of it as well as witness the other end of it," said Lynn Herron, Board Member, Friends of DeKalb Animals.

"The southe dogs tend to do real well up there because we have so many and they're adoptable and make great family dogs. We started in July and will hopefully move 75 by the end of this week," said Kaczinski.

Friends of DeKalb Animals are seeking donations for the program because this effort isn't cheap.

They say it costs $175 per dog for bedding and transport of the pets.