Saving Dogs From Death Row

LIVERMORE, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The stats are startling -- 52 million dogs live with families in the U.S., but the economy is sending more and more out on the street or into shelters. In fact, 8 million dogs are taken to the pound each year. Six million will be euthanized. Now, two women are making it their mission to find Fido a new home.

Cindy smith is on a mission … a rescue mission.

"He was an owner surrender," Cindy Smith, a pilot from Livermore, Calif., told Ivanhoe. "A forecloser situation and the owners couldn't keep him anymore. He was hours away from being destroyed."

And now, Bitty is on the ride of his life -- on his way to a new home. This pit bull is one of 7,000 dogs that have been saved by Pilots N Paws -- a group of pilots who volunteer for animal airlifts.

"The animal rescues go into the shelters and try to find who they're going to save," Smith explained.

Chad, a Yorkie, was flown from Gainesville to Tennessee. Dorothy the Doberman was abandoned in Kentucky and now calls Pittsburgh home. All of these dogs were found in shelters … all loving animals that were days -- some even hours away -- from being destroyed.

"They euthanize animals like Bitty every day," Smith said.

But this isn't only a national problem. Dogs are suffering all over the world.

Anna Clements began rescuing Galgos in Spain. These dogs are used for racing and hunting. This is Clements and Gilbert's first meeting.

"He's a lovely dog," Clements, director of SOS Galgos in Barcelona, Spain said. "As you can see, he's very docile. He was probably abandoned for not wanting to hunt."

A million Spanish greyhounds are used for hunting across Europe. When their owners are through, most of them are killed or left to fend for themselves.

"These dogs are so badly treated," Clements said. "They're hung from trees. They're thrown down wells alive."

The photo's are hard to look at, and are just a few of the dogs that Clements and her veterinarian husband have saved.

"We've operated on a few of them to save their lives," Albert Sordé, Clements' husband, said. "It's very rewarding, but also very sad."

SOS Galgos places one or two dogs every day with their new families.

Today, Gilbert is one of the lucky ones -- leaving behind a life of hunting and abuse, finding his new family and forever home.

Clements is asking for a grant to help pay foster families who take in Galgos. She hopes to pay them 30 Euros a month (about $40) to help with the dogs care.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Pilots N Paws, http://pilotsnpaws.org
SOS Galgos, http://www.sosgalgos.com