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The Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) joins Friends of Miami Animals Foundation Inc. (FoMA), Wings of Rescue, and several rescue partners located in the northeast states, to transport more than 30 shelter dogs who have been waiting to be adopted in our community. These dogs, including some of our long-term residents and seniors, will travel to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey, where there is a higher demand for adoptable pets. They will fly out on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 8 a.m., from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport’s National Jet Private Terminal (FLL) located at 3495 SW 9th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.
“Our County is dedicated to find caring homes for our pets by working together with other partners and animal welfare organizations to address the national overpopulation crisis. Partnering with FoMA, Wings of Rescue, and other regional rescues, allows us to extend our reach to provide these animals a chance at finding new homes,” said Annette Jose, Director of Animal Services, “While we say goodbye to these 30 dogs, we have hundreds more at our Pet Adoption and Protection Center who are waiting for their forever families. We urge everyone to open their home to a pet in need.”
The more than 30 dogs, all of which have been quarantining to be medically cleared for transport, will be flown to Morristown, NJ and Bedford, MA and will be met by six different rescue organizations: New Hampshire SPCA, Massachusetts SPCA, Bideawee, Best Friends Animal Society, Animal Haven, and Paws on the Green. The flight will be operated by non-profit Wings of Rescue, which transports homeless pets from high-density areas to rescue partners across the U.S. and Canada.
“When Yolanda of Friends of Miami Animals Foundation reached out to Wings of Rescue about doing a transport flight there was no question our answer was yes,” said Maggie McGuane, Wings of Rescue. “Miami-Dade is facing unprecedented overcrowding and this opportunity to both make room at the shelter and find forever homes up North was a no brainer. This flight is a one-way ticket to dozens of happy endings, I’m just thankful I get to be along for the ride.”
Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, Inc., is a 501c(3) organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of homeless pets.
“Relocation programs are a critical tool for saving lives,” said Yolanda Berkowitz, FoMA President and Founder. “We are happy to support Miami-Dade County Animal Services and are grateful for our partners at Wings of Rescue who have assisted us in times of critical overpopulation, and to the receiving shelter partners taking in our deserving pets to find them forever homes.”
Editor’s Note:
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About Miami-Dade County Animal Services
Every year, Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) provides care and refuge for 28,000 to 30,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats. Every day, Animal Services staff works diligently to find life-long homes for these abandoned animals by facilitating onsite adoptions, hosting offsite adoptions at locations throughout the community, and working collaboratively with rescue organizations, volunteers, and adoption partners. For more information visit, www.miamidade.gov/animals and/or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @adoptmiamipets.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Flora N. Beal, flora.beal@miamidade.gov, 305-250-8636
About Friends of Miami Animals
Friends of Miami Animals Foundation’s mission is to save and improve the lives of homeless pets in Miami Dade County through education, advocacy, financial support and increased awareness. FoMA was founded in 2016 from a desire to help reduce pet overpopulation and alleviate the underlying causes of pet homelessness, such as unwanted puppies and kittens, pet abandonment, and other issues that bring pets into shelters and force pet owners to surrender their pets due to temporary hardships. From funding free or low cost medical services through various partners to pets living in low income households, to helping Miami-Dade County Animal Services with enrichment for shelter pets by funding enhanced play yards to allow large dogs to get out in play groups and creating their Annual Volunteer Fair, our focus is to assist more homeless pets by working closely with Miami-Dade County Animal Services and other groups and helping to bring the shelter into the community and the community into the shelter.
About Wings of Rescue
Wings of Rescue is a donation-supported charity that air-transports surrendered, homeless and otherwise at-risk pets from high-density shelters, disaster areas and dangerous circumstances to the safety of rescue facilities and animal-welfare organizations where each pet is given care and a new home. Additionally, every year Wings of Rescue planes deliver thousands of pounds of humanitarian and veterinary aid to communities and pets in need, and the group serves as advocates for spay/neuter programs and other life-saving practices. Since its founding in 2012, Wings of Rescue pilots have safely and efficiently flown over 60,000 pets on to new lives. For more information, visit www.wingsofrescue.org
