Puerto Rico Shelter Dogs To Find New Homes In The US
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Hola Pepe, welcome to your now home.
More than 200 dogs from Puerto Rico's overwhelmed animal shelters were flown to the U.S. on Wednesday.
The dogs were brought to Ft. Lauderdale and Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina.
The 100 or so pooches who arrived at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport were divvied up among the Big Dog Ranch Rescue, The Humane Society of Broward County, The Humane Society Naples, The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County and Tri-County Animal Rescue.
The Humane Society of Broward County received 25 of the dogs.
"They look really good and happy," said Cherie Wachter, with the Humane Society of Broward County. "I'm sure some of these animals are a little bit shy."
The airlift was part of Operation Gray Muzzle, a coordinated large-scale rescue effort with the Humane Society of the United States and Wings of Rescue to protect the animals who'd been living in overrun and under-equipped facilities on the island of Puerto Rico.
"This is a sanctuary that had many dogs, the building a couple of months ago did not have running water or electricity, so it was really difficult for them to care for the dogs," said Wachter.
Wachter said the dogs they took will be allowed to rest for several days, be given any vaccinations that are required, and then put up for adoption.