DERIDDER, La. (AP) - Three DeRidder puppies found discarded in a backpack are now awaiting adoption in Wisconsin thanks to a network of volunteers.
Local rescue group Louisiana Lifelines for K9s fostered the abandoned pups after they were found, and volunteer Joan Baker said that doing so will leave her feeling rewarded for the rest of her life.
“I know that I will never find another dog like those three,” Baker said. “They were worth every bit of sacrifice and struggle to keep them alive, and they returned all that hard work with the most love I’ve ever felt from an animal.”
The puppies- zipped up in a backpack and abandoned behind a motel- were found by DeRidder animal control in early April. They showed signs of poor health and disease and were later diagnosed with parvo virus.
“For two weeks I would wake up every two to three hours to force-feed fluids, give antibiotics and administer medicines for vomiting and diarrhea to each one of the pups and clean them up,” Baker said. “There were a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of tears shed for them, but they survived and they thrived.”
During the nine weeks that Baker fostered the pups, they went from five to 25 pounds and were given a clean bill of health to begin their journey to Wisconsin, where another rescue was waiting to take them in.
“Because nearly all shelters in our state are full beyond capacity, we have begun working with other rescues out of state to take in our fosters and find homes for them,” said Louisiana Lifelines president Debbie Dyer.
“Wisconsin and Washington have been the primary states with rescues that have taken in countless numbers of our fosters over the past year.”
The puppies embarked on their journey June 15 and with help from dozens of volunteers were passed on to Fetch Rescue in Madison, Wisconsin on June 17.
Tom Quigly, with Kindred Hearts Transport Connection, was one of the drivers on the final leg of the trip, and he said that few people understand the need for transport volunteers.
“Even though our organization has over 8,000 members nationwide,” he said, “we are still searching for more transporters because there is such a large area that needs to be covered.”
Dyer said the Louisiana Lifelines organization also is in dire need of animal transport drivers.
“Even with the animals that are in our own fosters, they need to be transported to Lake Charles regularly for heartworm treatment and medicine because a clinic there works with us to give us incredible discounts on those bills,” she said. “Half the battle of rescuing is in getting the dogs to the vet for their treatment.”
Dyer said that the story of Ginger, Mary Ann and Skipper highlights just how many types of volunteers make up a single rescue.
“Not all the volunteers we seek are foster volunteers. Saving the lives of these animals truly requires a team effort, from fosters to donors, and to transport volunteers. Here in Beauregard Parish and throughout the state there is a desperate need in all facets of rescues to help get these animals to a happy home.”
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