DOG RESCUE When dogs need emotionally supportive humans

Posted on 10/19/2016 | About La Altagracia

You travel a lot, I travel a lot, and everywhere we go we come across stray dogs. Our hearts go out to them, and we wish we could help. Well a handful of animal lovers in Punta Cana three years ago didn’t just wish, they did something, and now you can help too. This group formed the only government registered non-profit animal rescue in Punta Cana. They all work in the Tourism industry.

When I heard what they were doing I wanted to help, and Air Transat said, “Of course.”
We work with Rescatame and a few others in Punta Cana. Air Transat, does a lot of amazing charity work. When I heard about their programme, I wanted you to know all about it.
Our 16 year old English Golden died in April, and we agreed that we wouldn’t have another dog until we stopped travelling so much. “No, we’re not bringing back a dog,” said my ever-patient husband, “I know you, the dog will end up coming here.”
Me: “Well I can bring up to three.”
Him: “Oh great.”
There were a lot of people in our life who were taking side bets, on how many dogs would come to our house. I promised there would be none.
I was so impressed that we could check in at 2:00am for the 6:15 flight. No lineups, friendly staff. Mary Kho who checked us in was the nicest check-in person I’ve had for a while.
We were both kind of nervous as we took a cab to the airport coming home. What if something went wrong and we missed our flight. We got to the Punta Cana Airport three hours early, looked around and didn’t see any crated dogs. We checked in, no problems.
I said, “ We’re bringing rescue dogs back to Canada.”
“I know,” she said.
Just so there was no misunderstanding, I said it again.
“I know she said…. Viviana is down there.”
It was then we realized that not only did our Transat check-in person know, but the entire staff at the airport staff knew what we were doing, and judging from the smiles approved. Then the dogs in their crates arrived. I wanted Gigi so bad. Her approach was to wag her tail endlessly, Pastelito, the Chihuahua with one eye, curled up with her cuddly toy and pretended to be elsewhere, Penelope turned her back. None of them howled.
Every free staff member of the airport found a way to wander over and take pictures, and talk to them. The entire staff of the airport was all smiles. Viviana had endless patience explaining things to us. She also had tears in her eyes when she said good bye to the dogs.
Several hours later on the plane, we looked out on the tarmac, and there were our “dogs” ready to be loaded. Again the ground handlers were so gentle with them as they loaded them, AND took pictures.
Tom fretted a bit on the flight, and secretly so did I. What if we had trouble bringing them into Canada. Yes, we had all the paperwork, proving they’d had all their shots. We were also given $50 to cover the tax. We didn’t need to worry. After the usual endless wait for our luggage, we went over to the oversized baggage doors where we were told to wait. Shortly, out they came. Gigi was still wagging. “ Now what?” “Just go through to the exit the way you normally do.”
It took two carts to get them and our luggage out, and over to Secondary. The whole process took maybe 15 minutes longer than usual at the airport.
“Why do this for out of country dogs? “I was hissed at in the Toronto Airport by an airport employee. She was surprisingly vicious about bringing in strays.
A friend said “We don't have enough homeless dogs of our own in Canada? We kill ours and you import more? Really!”
I had thought about this before we did it. We love dogs, I have over the years adopted four Canadian rescues, one American rescue, whose little boy couldn’t keep him when he moved to Canada, and if we took him, the little boy could visit. And when I was an employee of the Toronto Sun, some of my speaking fees went to the SPCA. Yes, I’ve helped dogs in need in Canada but I also believe in rescue without borders.
Tara, from, Canine Haven (caninehaven@hotmail.com) is part of a non profit rescue and met us at the Toronto airport. Her group rescues dogs from a lot of countries in the world. She is also involved in rescues from our far north reserves. She knew all the dogs, and welcomed them to Canada. And too soon for my liking they were loaded in Tara’s car.
A week later, all three have been adopted. Their new humans spent $400 per dog to adopt them. This fee covers off vet bills, shots, spaying etc., and retraining if necessary. And us? We’re still a bit sad that Gigi didn’t come home with us.
Air Transat works with rescues in Puerto Plata, Cancun, and Veradero. They also fly dog and cat food and crates, and medicines down. And next month they’re flying in 12 vets who are volunteering their time to spay and neuter dogs and cats. The dedication of the volunteers is humbling. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble.
Thank you Air Transat. We’ll be doing it again in Cancun this winter.