Bartlesville Pet Rescue Group Breaks PetSmart Charities Record

NewsOn6.com

BARTLESVILLE, Oklahoma -- The Washington County SPCA in Bartlesville will reach a milestone on Thursday morning, July 7. That's when they will have transferred more than 1,000 dogs and puppies to a charity rescue program that generally gets pets adopted within a few days.

They will have reached this goal in record time, according to Susanna Della Maddalena, Executive Director for PetSmart Charities.

PetSmart runs the Rescue Waggin' Program that takes the Oklahoma rescue dogs to the Humane Society in Boulder, Colorado where they are generally adopted within a week.

"Clearly the Washington County SPCA is very committed to getting as many dogs and puppies as they can aboard the Rescue Waggin' vehicle every month. We're very proud of their efforts to save the lives of so many dogs in their community," Maddalena said.

The Rescue Waggin' vehicle will pick up another 35 dogs and puppies on Thursday from the WCSPCA for the transport to an animal shelter in the Midwest where there is more adoption space and a guarantee of a new home for each homeless Bartlesville dog, according to Maddalena.

"It's a lot of work every month for our staff and volunteers, but partnering with PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' program has helped us change our shelter policy to finding a home for every adoptable animal, even if that means we have to transfer them out of our area," said Paula Blower, Shelter Manager, Washington County SPCA."

To celebrate, the WCSPCA hosting a "Howling Success" party at the Price Tower from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.  Everyone can take a tour of the Rescue Waggin' and enjoy Michael Wheeler's famous gourmet hot dogs.

To learn more about Rescue Waggin' program, as well as other programs that PetSmart Charities supports and creates, visit http://www.petsmartcharities.org/ or call 1-800-423-PETS.