like most of you, it’s hard to hear of devastation from so far away and not know how to help.
watching the news and reading stories of the hurricane harvey tragedy really sparked something in me to do what i can to help.
i realize that as a blogger, i’m seen as an “influencer”, and that my reach is relatively far.
i’m saying a prayer to the blogging Gods to help one of my dear friends and her amazing organization, that is helping a sliver of the tragedy.
my friend Lindsay (left) has been a Jackson Hole local for over a decade, with a passion for helping animals.
she worked for our local Animal Adoption Center for years and is a well known dog trainer/whisperer.
her mother is a New Orleans native and after Hurricane Katrina, the two devoted their time to creating, The Inner Pup, an amazing 501(c)3 non-profit to help the abandoned animals in the aftermath of the storm.
Lindsay has been splitting her time and energy between NOLA and the mountains, shuttling dogs to shelters across the country as she goes.
if you know me, i’m a huge dog lover, and most of my best dog pals have come from the Animal Adoption Center in Jackson Hole.
there’s something so special about shelter dogs.
(two of my faves, Burt and Leo, above!)
i spoke to Lindsay and her mom in depth this week about how i can get the word out to help the dogs of hurricane harvey and they explained how the system works and more on how we can make an impact…
when disaster strikes, family pets are often left due to lack of room, finances, or a place to house them, and theses animals, if rescued, are sent to local shelters first.
{keep in mind most of these local shelters were full before the storm hit}.
if shelters become overcrowded, many start to euthanize dogs or turn them away, simply from a lack of space.
when that happens, people like Lindsay get on the phone and start finding shelters all over the country that have room and ability to take in new dogs, which can take longer than expected due to costs involved.
the dogs that are euthanized first are typically older, disabled, or pregnant mommas.
Lindsay’s mother recently purchased her home for retirement just outside of NOLA, which happens to have acres of land, and a large barn.
they never planned on housing animals, but after this week, they both felt a strong calling to do so at this new property.
SO, this is where you come in…..
if we can raise money to help The Inner Pup in NOLA, hurricane harvey dogs will be shipped to them ASAP.
the money they need right now will go directly to fencing for the shelter, as well as food/water/medicine, vet care, and transportation costs from texas.
local vets have promised to donate their time and are now just waiting for the furry friends to arrive.
once the dogs (and cats!) arrive at The Inner Pup, Lindsay is then able to transport these dogs across the country to open shelters, like our Animal Adoption Center.
the quicker the shuffle, more lives are saved.
for Jackson Hole locals, you can help make an impact locally for hurricane harvey dogs!
the Animal Adoption Center has confirmed that they will be taking as many dogs as they can fit on a plane on September 15th, who will then be available for adoption right here in town.
your donations will go towards the transportation costs for every animal!
it’s a bit of a puzzle finding open spots for all of the dogs, but this mother-daughter duo is utterly devoted to it.
once the dogs are safe in NOLA, they are then sent to non-kill shelters.
i know that there are many organizations out there and most of you have donated to the relief, but this is one way to impact on a local (or national) level.
every donation will receive a tax deductible receipt.
please follow me on instagram @MeagTheEgg for weekly updates on these furry friends!
from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
photos from The Inner Pup, top two photos taken by me.