Shelter Joins National Transport Program

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter is the first in the state of Georgia to join a national transport program through PetSmart Charities.

The Shelter has obtained specialized training to participate in the “Rescue Waggin” program.

Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said this is a national transport program that moves adoptable dogs and puppies from shelters that have high pet populations to other shelters across the nation that accept transferred dogs and puppies into their adoption program.

“This is going to be a monthly program that is going to come to our facility and pick up anywhere from 15 to 30 animals at a time,” said Roberts.

He added that it will also give the shelter more time and space for the animals that are not transported out.

Two staff members from the shelter attended training as part of the program to learn to conduct behavior assessments on animals for the program.

Roberts said this not only ensures the right animals are part of the transport program, but will help the animals that stay at the shelter as well.

“All of our animals will not pass the assessment test because they are very stringent on what they accept, but even if they do not pass the test, we have a better understanding of what their behavior is and can match them to local households,” said Roberts.

Beginning this month, the “Rescue Waggin” vehicle will make monthly visits to the shelter to pick up adoptable dogs and puppies for transport.

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter will be one of 60 animal shelters participating in this national transport program.

Roberts said participation in this program also comes with other benefits.

Those include a mentoring aspect for operational issues and a grant program down the road open to only shelters in the program.

Roberts said there is no extra cost to the shelter to be a part of this transport program, adding that PetSmart Charities covered the cost of staff training as well.