LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) – The Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center’s transport van is taking another group of adoptable animals to a different state. They have made several transports to Tennessee, but this time they’re going to New York.
Thanks to community donations, Longview Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) was able to outfit their van with all of the equipment it needed and also debuted a new wrap featuring 14 LACAC adoptees who found their forever homes.
The van’s new wrap features larger-than-life animals. Reynolds pointed out a special inclusion: Minty, the shelter mascot black cat who lives in the surgery suite with the veterinary staff.
“When I first saw it yesterday in real time, it made me tear up because it’s just a true testament to the efforts that we go to to ensure these animals get a second chance,” PAWS Executive Director Jackie Reynolds said.
The animal shelter has had the van since July, with PAWS making six transports all over the country. It’s designed to be able to transform each trip, accommodating different pet sizes and combinations of pet crates — Reynolds described it like the game Tetris.
The van is already putting on the miles, with five trips to the The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue in Tennessee. According to Reynolds, it’s heading towards New York on Sunday.
PAWS has partnered with the North Shore Animal League to take 32 puppies to the northeast for adoption. PAWS will meet with North Shore volunteers in Virginia for a pick-up.
There are a lot of logistics that go into transporting animal adoptions, including finding foster homes while the animals wait to catch a ride, as well as the required health certificates and shots.
“Our goal is to do it as often as we can but at minimum at least once a month, being able to kind of hit the road and get them out of East Texas and on to their to their new life,” Reynolds said.
But why do larger cities north and east of Texas need the animals?
“If anyone’s ever spent time up north, you’ll notice that there doesn’t seem to be as big of an overpopulation crisis, and we attribute a lot of that to spay and neuter ordinances,” Reynolds said.
In February, Longview passed an ordinance modeled after what lager cities have been enforcing for years. Reynolds says it’s a step in the right direction, but there are still plenty of strays in Gregg County.
“We don’t want to have to do these transports, but it’s truly a matter where every lifesaving effort that we can do, we’re going to do it,” Reynolds said.
“Hey, I can fit two more thirties right here,” said Shelter Director Jenna George.
Every trip they, rearrange the van with different sizes and numbers of kennels to accommodate the cats and/or dogs being transported. This time it’s 32 puppies. Reynolds said there is a demand in many big cities in the northeast and Pacific northwest for pets.
“There was a situation pre-COVID where they were on waiting lists for adoptees looking for animals,” Reynolds said. “Now, post COVID, it’s a little less like that, but they’re still looking to adopt. They want to save a life.”
Reynolds says it’s a goal they share.
Volunteer Sandy Cooker and her husband drive the van, delivering dozens of dogs to other states so they can be adopted.
“It’s a nice feeling knowing that you’re helping out,” Cooker said. “And no matter how tired you are and everything, it’s worth it.”
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