Hinsdale Humane Society Staff Member Travels to Mississippi to Rescue Pets

Submitted by the Hinsdale Humane Society
Photo: Terry of Chicago and his family, adopted Lucille, a white German shepherd from the rescue operation. Lucille had recently given birth to a litter of puppies. (may still be available for adoption).

The Hinsdale Humane Society recently welcomed in four dogs and four puppies from a Mississippi breeding operation that was closed down due to extreme neglect on July 15.

HHS Operations Manager, Jennifer Vlazny, returned to our shelter with the rescued animals after an 18-hour round trip drive to Tunica, Mississippi where the pets were housed and cared for by Animal Rescue Corps prior to transfer to HHS.

ARC is a national volunteer animal rescue organization comprised of trained volunteers, photographers and veterinarians. ARC is contacted by authorities for immediate removal and care of animals that are victims of cruelty, abuse, and other inhumane treatment and offenses. Vlazny is a trained volunteer for ARC in addition to her responsibilities at HHS.

In the Mississippi rescue, ARC saved 75 dogs, 24 cats, 21 horses, and 8 donkeys from deplorable and inhumane living conditions.

According to ARC rescue procedures, the animals were moved from the site to a holding facility prepared for triage to treat the severe medical issues resulting from their mistreatment. Each animal was then assessed medically, and given immediate treatment for injuries, infections, wounds, and parasites.

ARC volunteers provide continuous care documenting tests, vaccinations, medications, and treatment as well as general health and sociability assessments. After completing this aspect of rescue, ARC informs its Placement Partners throughout the U.S. that animals are available, and begins making arrangements to transfer them.

Mississippi Rescue

Placement partners from Illinois as well as from Wisconsin, Tennessee, Maryland, and Kentucky have also received rescued pets from this operation. In preparation to receive the animals at HHS, Vlazny assessed available kennel space and loaded the HHS van with portable crates and kennels to safely accommodate eight animals. Once they arrived at the shelter, additional support from volunteers, veterinarians, foster homes, and donors aided the staff’s work in caring for the rescued dogs.

Four shepherd puppies and their mom, another German shepherd, a mastiff mix and a young Labrador Retriever were housed at HHS in clean kennels with beds/blankets, food, water and toys, receiving care and attention. They acclimated quickly to their surroundings and completed their medical treatments, prior to going up for adoption.

Updated information about these transfer dogs will be posted on the HHS website and Facebook page as it becomes available. Many of them have already been adopted into loving homes.

HHS is committed to working with volunteer transport groups and rescue organizations such as ARC to save the lives of homeless and neglected animals. The work that ARC and its volunteers do in emergency situations recently prompted Vlazny to enroll in and complete the two-day Level 1 and 2 Volunteer Training course.

The program is designed to train volunteers for all aspects of an ARC rescue and also provide animal care knowledge and training for anyone working with rescue animals. Vlazny pursued this training saying, “I wanted the knowledge and experience, but with the hope that I wouldn’t NEED to participate because it (participation) means that animals are in peril.”

Although the horrific conditions in Mississippi put many animals in peril, all have been placed in appropriate shelters/rescues and are expected to recover.