Every day, animal shelters look for ways to save the lives of the homeless pets in their care, promoting adoptions and pushing pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. In 2009 though, some animal shelters, like the Putnam County Humane Society in Hurricane, WV (221dogs and puppies saved); Little Victories Animal Rescue Group in Ona, WV (185 dogs and puppies saved); Randolph County Humane Society in Elkins, WV (209 dogs and puppies saved); and Taylor County Humane Society in Grafton, WV (182 dogs and puppies saved), went above and beyond by saving the lives of hundreds of dogs and puppies through PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’ program. In fact, during calendar year 2009, an additional 797 dogs and puppies from these four animal shelters got the second chances they deserved, thanks to the Rescue Waggin’ program, which is proudly sponsored by PEDIGREE®. The Rescue Waggin’ program is a unique national transport program that moves adoptable dogs and puppies from overcrowded shelters to animal shelters in other communities where adoptable dogs and puppies are more in demand and guaranteed good homes (learn more about it at www.rescuewaggin.org). Every month, these partner shelters select dogs and puppies from its overflow of incoming homeless pets, behaviorally assesses them, gives them a health exam, and prepares them for a ride that literally will save their lives. Riding in a vehicle equipped with piped-in lullabies, the dogs and puppies board the Rescue Waggin’ vehicle, arriving the very same day at animal shelters in the northeastern part of the country. “These puppies and dogs are usually adopted within three to five days of their arrival at the new shelter,” says Susanna Della Maddalena, Executive Director for PetSmart Charities, Inc. In 2009, PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’ program saved the lives of 8,507 dogs and puppies. In the six years since the Rescue Waggin’ program began, more than 32,000 dogs and puppies – pets that might otherwise have been euthanized – have been saved. These four West Virginia shelters are among 53 animal shelters across the nation in PetSmart Charities® Rescue Waggin’ program. (Reprinted with permission from the Mountain Statesman Newspaper and PetSmart Charities)