MIDLAND, Texas — Many animal shelters in West Texas have reached full capacity.
Sassy’s Dogs Rescue is a nonprofit organization based out of Midland, TX, that's helping some of these dogs find forever homes in other states.
Debbie Terry is the founder of the foster-based organization. Most of the dogs they care for are strays and shelter dogs from the Permian Basin.
"There's such a need [for dogs] up north," said Terry. "The laws are a lot different up there where we send them. They're stricter on the spaying and neuter so they're not saturated like we are here in West Texas."
According to Terry, Sassy’s Dogs Rescue has saved the lives of more than four-hundred dogs since it was first founded in 2020; and nearly 80% of these dogs made their way out of West Texas."
Transporting dogs in need of homes is also practiced by other rescuers in the region. Sassy’s Dog Rescue makes the trip to northern states, including Washington and Massachusetts, at least twice a month.
As for the cost, the organization spends at least five-hundred dollars to ensure they will be accepted across state lines. Sometimes, it can take about two months until some of these dogs can be transported to their new foster parents or permanent homes.
"That's the part where we rely on all their donations to in order to keep continuing to save all the lives and we get them fully vetted, spayed, neutered, fully vaccinated... In order to leave the state of Texas," said Terry.
