6,000th dog saved by Georgia Puppy Pipeline comes to AHS

October 15, 2011

Each time the Puppy Pipeline van pulls up to Animal Humane Society, it’s a special day for the dozens of dogs and puppies on board who will soon find new homes. But on Wednesday, October 12, it was an extra special day for the organization responsible for providing these animals with a second chance; this was the day that Puppy Pipeline Rescue of Georgia transported their 6,000^th dog!

Mike Dougherty founded Puppy Pipeline in 2007 and has since been transporting dogs from animal shelters in Georgia and surrounding southern states to shelters in the Northeast and upper Midwest, including Animal Humane Society, where they are adopted into new homes. Without Puppy Pipeline's help, these healthy dogs would have been euthanized in Georgia simply because there isn’t enough space for them.

The transport concept is simple says Dougherty, "We bring dogs from a region (the South) of low demand and high supply, to another area of high demand and low supply." Puppy Pipeline emphasizes full van loads of dogs traveling in climate controlled comfort. Vans are driven by dependable, professional drivers and are driven overnight from Atlanta to Golden Valley, Minn. All dogs are vet checked and carry health certificates as required by Minnesota law.

Mike recognizes that to reach this milestone, he has had a lot of help, "Help from our sponsors, help from the sending and receiving shelter personnel, but most of all, help from the people of the Twin Cities for creating the demand for these innocent creatures. Without the level of compassion that exists in the Twin Cities, we would have never existed."

Puppy Pipeline Rescue has been transporting dogs to AHS since they met by chance at a Florida trade show in 2007. In 2010, Puppy Pipeline brought 241 dogs to AHS. This year, that number stands at close to 600 dogs and is projected to be about 800 at year's end.

On Wednesday, 28 dogs and puppies arrived in Golden Valley with the lucky 6,000^th dog on board. The milestone was completed when Samantha, a one-year-old terrier mix, was carried off the van and into the loving care of Animal Humane Society staff. Samantha and the other 27 dogs and puppies that arrived that day will all be placed in loving homes in the Twin Cities.

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