Dane County Humane Society's dog transfer partner Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) has been challenged these past few weeks not only by limited volunteer animal transport drivers, staff quarantining for COVID-19, but also by widespread damage to their community from multiple tornado outbreaks. Along with these challenges has been a significant increase in the number of dogs in their shelter waiting to reunite with their families after the severe storms.

In mid-March, our regularly scheduled dog transfer scheduled on Thursday morning was in jeopardy with a severe weather forecast of multiple, long-lasting tornadoes. We anticipated that it would need to be cancelled, but through perseverance, 28 dogs arrived at the DCHS shelter at midnight the Wednesday night before. GBHS drivers got out of the area ahead of the storm to deliver the dogs to safety in Wisconsin, and our dedicated staff was there to meet them in the middle of the night.

Click here for Channel 3 News footage of the dogs arriving at DCHS in the dark and our staff getting them offloaded.

A week later, GBHS's five-county service area was again impacted by another tornado outbreak. To serve their community in need of temporary shelters for their pets, they partnered with other local shelters and Wings of Rescue to quickly transport 71 dogs to St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center and Brandywine Valley SPCA in New Jersey.

Click here to view the video of the flight being loaded in Birmingham. Click here to view the dogs unloading in New Jersey.

While DCHS didn't get their usual transfer of dogs this week because of all the challenges GBHS's staff has faced, the great news is that, through perseverance and lifesaving partnerships, dogs are still finding healing, hope and homes. We're proud to work alongside inspiring partners like Greater Birmingham Humane Society!