Dixie Dogs
What are Dixie Dogs?
Dixie Dogs are transported from overcrowded shelters in Southern states (such as Kentucky and Alabama) so they can receive a second chance at a new life—here in New England!
Why does DPVHS have Dixie Dogs?
As the birthplace of the animal welfare movement in the United States, New England is ahead of pack in resolving its dog overpopulation crisis.
Twenty years ago, nearly 6,000 puppies flooded the five MSPCA animal shelters throughout the state of Massachusetts. In 2004, only 400 puppies came in to those same shelters. Clearly, New Englanders have received the all-important message about not allowing their companion dogs to roam or breed.
This is not to say that animal shelters in New England are empty. Only that they are emptier.
Dogs continue to need rescue—caretakers fall ill or die, unforeseen emergencies separate families, behavior or health problems become too much for unprepared people—all of these circumstances continue to cause many dogs to arrive at local shelters. Animal control officers continue to pick up and care for unclaimed stray dogs.
The need for dog shelters continues to exist. But the New England overpopulation emergency for dogs has passed.
Not true in many areas of the South and Midwest. Animal shelters in many counties in these areas take in thousands of dogs and puppies every year—dogs and puppies who are healthy, friendly family pets—and euthanize nearly all of them. Transporting these dogs and pups to shelters in New England is their only chance at life.
What about cats?
Animal shelters in New England may have won one battle against pet overpopulation, but we are far from winning the war. Cat overpopulation continues to take thousands of lives each year in the Pioneer Valley region alone.
Why cats and not dogs? People tend to confine their dogs, but allow their cats to roam at will. Dogs are only in heat twice a year, but cats come into heat more often, nearly continuously, if they haven’t mated. Large populations of feral cats roam the streets and barnyards of our fair state. Their kittens are often rounded up and brought to animal shelters—or, worse, take good homes away from kittens already in shelters.
The fact is, New England, along with the rest of the United States, is still killing its unwanted cat population at an alarming rate.
DPVHS is working hard to reduce the homeless cat population. We have many different spay/neuter assistance programs available to help reduce our local cat population. Until a surplus of homeless cats and kittens are no longer entering our shelters, we will not import cats from other states.
What's cool about the Dixie Dog program?
- It saves dogs' lives.
- Our Dixies are specifically chosen for their soft, gentle temperaments.
- We are able to match Dixies with local families who are looking for a loving family dog and want to save a life by adopting rather than buying from a pet store. To learn more about the harm done by stores that sell puppies and the puppy mills that supply them, visit Stop Puppy Mills.
- We help our Southern partner shelters by sending them supplies they desperately need to help local dogs while providing much-needed financial support that helps them gradually improve conditions for their local dogs.
