Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, February 18, 2024 – Over 30 dogs from Miami-Dade County Animal Services embarked on a journey from South Florida to the northeast on Saturday, a collaborative effort aimed at increasing adoption prospects and alleviating the strain on the county’s overcrowded animal shelters.
The initiative, orchestrated by Miami-Dade County Animal Services Director Annette Jose, was set in motion through planning conversations that commenced in November. The successful execution of the project was made possible by the generous support of Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, Inc. and Wings of Rescue.
Director Annette Jose explained the significance of the endeavor, stating, “We have some senior dogs and some long-stayers, which are always very difficult to get adopted. But the senior dogs are your lap dogs. They’re going to sit and watch a football game with you.” She emphasized the urgency of finding homes for these animals, given the extended length of stay at the shelter.
Nonprofit organization Wings of Rescue played a pivotal role in facilitating the canine transport, providing the plane for the journey. The California-based charity specializes in flying at-risk shelter pets from disaster areas and overcrowded shelters to safe havens where they stand a better chance of finding permanent homes.
Maggie McGuane, Disaster Response Director at Wings of Rescue, shared her emotional connection to the cause, stating, “I cry every time we land. When I see animals, pets coming out of overcrowded situations where their odds of finding a home are slim… When they get to a place where I know they have a really decent shot at being part of a family quickly, it’s immediately emotional for me. It’s why I do it.”
For McGuane, the emotional significance of this particular flight, departing from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, was compounded by her familial ties to the late singer Jimmy Buffett, who had a deep connection to Florida. McGuane acknowledged her uncle’s influence and legacy, noting, “To be in Florida, and flying these animals to safety and to forever homes, it’s like — going to make me cry — but it’s a little bit for my Uncle Jimmy.”
Jimmy Buffett’s commitment to animal welfare has endured even after his passing in September 2023, as evidenced by the release of a music video titled “Like My Dog” two months later, advocating for pet adoption from shelters and rescue organizations.
Upon arrival in the northeast, the dogs from Miami-Dade County were received by six partner rescue organizations, facilitating their transfer to shelters in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York.
Yolanda Berkowitz, Founder of Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, shed light on the larger issue of animal overpopulation in South Florida. She emphasized the need for education and support for spay and neuter surgeries, pointing out that the northeast has better spay/neuter support, resulting in a more balanced population.
Miami-Dade County Animal Services Director Annette Jose acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic, which led to a pause in spay and neuter surgeries. However, the focus has now shifted to increasing these surgeries in the county, with free spay and neuter events organized on weekends.
Organizers and volunteers continue to urge local residents to adopt, foster, donate, or volunteer their time to address the ongoing challenges and provide a better future for the canine population in Miami-Dade County. “Take dogs home and give them a chance to decompress,” Berkowitz emphasized, encouraging potential adopters to get to know the dogs’ personalities.
