Delaware airports are no stranger to rescue pets riding in style before arriving inthe state, and the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s latest batch of adoptable dogs and cats is no different.
Over the weekend,a flight of 123 dogs and catswasreceived by the BVSPCA after hitting the tarmacat Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown and will be up for adoption beginning Wednesday at the shelter’s new facility on Churchmans Road.
The four-legged passengers on this flight came all the way from shelters in Louisiana, where Brandywine Valley SPCA began a mentoring project in 2021 and receives rescue flights every two weeks.
While some will be available for adoption at the new complex, others will be distributed acrossBVSPCA’s other locations in Kent County; Sussex County;West Chester, Pa.; and Plymouth Meeting,Pa.
In fact, thousands of furry friends have traveled the skies to reach their final destination in Delaware.
Earlier this month, a flight of animals rescued from areas impacted by Hurricane Ian flew into the New Castle County Airport, and most of them have already been adopted. In August, dozens of beagles were welcomed to the BVSPCA’s Georgetown campus after being rescued from a breeding compound in Virginia that sold the dogs for experimentation.
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Other animals from the BVSPCA’s latest flight from Louisiana were received at the Chester County Airport in Coatesville, Pa.
Why do so many rescue animals come through Delaware?
While Delawareans might tout the state as an ideal place to live for beautiful coastal views and tax-free shopping, animal flights have chosen the state as their destinationfor another reason.
“Delaware was the first no-kill state in the country,” said Linda Torelli, chief marketing officer of the BVSPCA. “In general, Delaware has become a destination because we’ve become so much more welcoming of spay/neuter.”
The BVSPCA is also an open-access shelter, meaning they take in animals with medical needs, behavioral problems or any other issues that would need attention before an animal could be placed up for adoption.
Preparing for forever homes
Once an animal flight is received, the BVSPCA staff get the animals settled into their cages and crates, provide food and water and begin conducting intake exams as soon as possible.
Most flights contain animals that are already suited for adoption, including being up to date with vaccinations and necessary medical evaluations, but the BVSPCA checks all animals upon arrival to ensure a smoother acclimation and adoption process.
Opening up the cargo doors and hearing the barks and meows, seeing the faces of dogs and cats looking at the staff and volunteers always makes Torelli feel joyful that her staff gets to help the animals and give them thechance at life they deserve, she said.
“I've probably seen over a hundred of these flights, andevery single one gives me goosebumps,” she said. “It’s such an inspiring experience and it honestly never gets old for me.”
Torelli, who has been working with shelter animals for about 20 years, said resources like the BVSPCA give more options for shelter pets and have created more momentum for people to choose adoption over breeders because they know the animals are taken care of and treated kindly.
“These aren’t the pounds of the past. To point to our new facility, these are loving, happy places,” she said.
Why the new facility?
The Churchmans Road facility, named the Copeland Center for Animal Welfare, will be replacing the shelter’s original campus in Old New Castle due to the BVSPCA outgrowing it.
The Copeland Center will be able to house over 200 animals and will have medical capabilities well beyond those of their previous campus.
The Churchmans Road site will be home to the first in-house ICU for shelter and family pets in Delaware. It will also double the capacity of their old campus for spaying and neutering, as well as double the clinic space, quarantine treatment rooms for pets with contagious diseases, and specialty surgery capabilities.
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Aside from medical improvements, more new additions includea large community room for service groups and humane education, six outdoor play yards – an upgrade from one – and indoor/outdoor kennels so pets can wander out to patios. There will also be three free-roaming areas for cats, dubbed “catios.”
All resources at this facility are available to New Castle County shelter animals and family pets as well as the BVSPCA’s other service areas.
Interested in adopting? What you need to know
If you are interested in adopting a member of the BVSPCA’s most recent flight of rescues, oranimals from previous rescue flights, make sure you are prepared to visit the shelter.
Any individual looking to adopt an animal from the shelter should bring all members of their family and any existing pets along with them. From there, staff will ask questions about the individual’s or family’s habits to ensure they find a good match with a shelter animal.
You will also need a valid driver’s license (and be over the age of 18 years old) and any handling items for adopted animals such as collars, leashes and pet carriers, all of which can be purchased on-site.
Adoption fees vary based on animal type, size and age, so be sure to check the website or inquire upon arrival. Adoption feesinclude the cost of services such as medical needs, microchipping and a free follow-up exam within two weeks of adoption.
These fees also provide additional resources to other animals in the shelter, including those that may require surgeries, those in need of behavior training, or long-term shelter residents.
For Torelli, watching an animal go from a shelter resident to a family pet is the epitome of what this line of work is all about.
“To see the joy in both the people and the pet, and to watch the bond, it’s really fun to watch people make that choice,” she said. "It’s definitely the ultimate reward.”
