The sound of animals in need echoes through the Sullivan County Animal Shelter.
Every day new animals arrive; many will never find a home. But some do, thanks to a woman who devoted her life to saving animals.
“Through the northern connections and the rescue groups I've been able to save a lot of lives,” said Ada Flaherty, who’s rescued more than 150 lives so far.
It all started after Hurricane Katrina, when Ada Flaherty took part in an “underground railroad” rescue effort for animals left without owners in New Orleans.
“I thought, you know, we have shelters in our own local area that need help and we do not have high adoption rates at the shelter,” said Flaherty.
Flaherty stops by the animal shelter every week to rescue a group of animals that will eventually be adopted. The majority, by Northerners.
“The reason I adopt about 85 percent of my dogs up north…is because they do not have the over population in their shelters like we have here,” said Flaherty.
Strict spay and neuter laws up there mean fewer animals available for adoption, so potential pet owners look south.
“Down here we have a lot of dogs that are a year or younger...most of them are un-neutered males,” said Flaherty.
The first thing Flaherty does when she rescues an animal is she brings it into the vets office for a wellness check.
“All our animals are fully vetted with health certificates,” said Flaherty.
She then takes them home with her or places them in a foster home while she looks for a suitable match.
“There's criminal background checks, there's do not adopt checks,” said Flaherty.
Once she finds a home, Flaherty drives the animal there herself, wherever it may be. Flaherty said it is rags to riches for many of her animals
“One of my dogs that came from our Sullivan County Animal Shelter was in a forth of July parade on Martha's Vineyard,” said Flaherty.
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