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Get Your Licks on Route 66 Pet Adoption Tour
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Get Your Licks on Route 66 Pet Adoption Tour
North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) and FIDO Friendly magazine partnered for the first annual Get Your Licks on Route 66 pet adoption tour last June. Presenting Sponsors Purina and One Hope Network, along with Supporting Sponsors, Bissell, 3M, Toyota, LaQuinta Inn & Suites and Animal Radio helped raise awareness for pet adoptions across the country.
More than 150 pets found forever homes and one lucky pup will grace the cover of FIDO Friendly magazine for a future issue. NSALA provided the 36-foot mobile pet adoption bus and pets were picked up in style and delivered to local Wal-Mart venues where potential pet owners could board the bus and look for their forever pets.
Bus drivers James andDebbie piloted the climate-controlled vehicle from Santa Monica, California to Chicago, IL. They arrived at partner shelters early to collect the eager batch of hopeful adoptees and every evening, returned those who were not adopted that day. James and Debbie would then clean and sterilize the bus to make ready for the next town. Their hard work was rewarded each time a new pet guardian signed on the dotted line. It was also understood that many people looking during the day and not quite deciding on a pet, would often be found the following morning at the shelter, ready to adopt.
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Toyota provided the Venza for us to use as a chase car and with Junior safely ensconced in his crate, we rode America’s favorite highway. The Mother Road as some have called her, was welcoming and full of smiles as people passing by glanced over at our logo, promoting pet adoptions. Together, my husband, Junior and I, witnessed first hand how hard the shelter volunteer’s work and what big hearts they all have.
Hard facts of why so many animals end up in our country’s shelters were never more evident then the day spent at one adoption. Two small dogs were owner-turn in’s. The reason: The owners were moving and the new apartment community did not allow dogs; The blind, 14-year old Beagle, who luckily came to a no-kill shelter and will most likely live out her days there, had a guardian who was taken to a nursing home, where dogs are not allowed. Many dogs and cats were found as strays, just like our boy, Junior; the one-eyed Pomeranian whose littermate brutally attacked him and the Pomeranian had to have surgery to remove his eye. The owner turned in the victim. All but the Beagle mentioned above, were adopted that day.
This was a trip of a lifetime, one we have pledged to make as an annual event. With the help of NSALA and our sponsors, we will do our very best to make a difference in how shelter animals are viewed and to help raise awareness to adopt when the time is right to bring home a new family member.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Purina provided complimentary bags of dog food, collapsible water bowls and toys for pet owners and One Hope Network included information about their mission to help increase pet adoptions, volunteerism, donations by elevating the status of all pets. Bissell held demonstrations of their cleaning machines and products at each event. 3M sponsored our bus wrap while Toyota provided the chase car and LaQuinta Inn & Suites contributed accommodations for the crew. Animal Radio got the word out on the airwaves to bring people out for all the events and Sparkletts Drinking Water helped us out with 600 bottles of water!
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