Laurie Blain, President and a founder of Puppy Love, Inc., is pleased to announce that the Harpswell-based dog rescue group has received IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) public charity organization.
“We are so excited with the approval which will open new funding opportunities to support Puppy Love’s mission to save dogs from sure death in the Louisiana county shelter system,” Laurie said.
Puppy Love received its first transport of dogs in September, 2010, and to date has placed over 160 dogs in loving forever homes in Maine and neighboring New England states. Every one of the rescues were at risk of mass killing in the shelter system where dogs are placed in gassing rooms if they can’t be adopted or saved by rescue groups.
Puppy Love works with two rescue groups in Louisiana which bring the dogs to veterinarians for health checks and then hold them for 14 days of observation to further monitor their health and behavior. Subsequently, the dogs move to private foster homes and are provided comprehensive vet care including wellness exams, spay/neuter, vaccinations, treatment for any identified acute medical issues, heartworm testing and preventive medication. “By working rescue to rescue and maintaining good standards of care, we hope to minimize health problems,” said Laurie Blain, who co-founded Puppy Love with her husband, Ed.
When the dogs are ready for transport to Maine, they are issued a health certificate by a veterinarian to allow interstate travel. A licensed transport based in Saco picks up the dogs in Louisiana. The 1,800 mile trip north takes about 3 days, and the transport stops every 3 to 4 hours to walk and tend to all the dogs. Once in Maine, the Blains and other families serve as foster homes until the dogs are adopted.
Adopters often refer to the operation as an underground railroad of sorts, moving the dogs from their plight in Louisiana to homes here, but often ask, “why Louisiana?” Economic impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the Deep Horizon oil spill have resulted in higher-than-usual numbers of surrendered animals. In addition, lack of routine spaying and neutering results in overpopulation and overcrowded shelters.
Adopters often refer to the operation as an underground railroad of sorts, moving the dogs from their plight in Louisiana to homes here, but often ask, “why Louisiana?” Economic impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the Deep Horizon oil spill have resulted in higher-than-usual numbers of surrendered animals. In addition, lack of routine spaying and neutering results in overpopulation and overcrowded shelters.
“Ed and I adopted several dogs from our rescue connection in New Iberia. When we began the process of adopting our last dog, we discovered the Maine coordinator retired, and we were both eager to fill the void,” Laurie Blain said.
The couple have been rescue volunteers for the past 17 years and they seem to have been born for their new calling.
Puppy Love will be developing fund-raising activities to support its mission of saving dogs at threat of destruction, and to educate the public regarding pet overpopulation, the merits of adoption versus breeding, and the importance of spaying and neutering. Merchandise such as hats and shirts will be available for sale on the organization's web site in the near future. A fund-raising benefit dance is scheduled for October 1 at Library Hall on Bailey Island, and will feature live music performed by the Holy Mackerals. Tickets will be available soon.
For more information about the group or applying to adopt a dog, visit the Puppy Love website at www.puppyloveme.org, or call Laurie and Ed at 833-5199.
