The Wheels of Hope Turn (and Re-turn) for Dog Adoptions

Jack, a blind Chihuahua mix, "is my beautiful blonde boy," says Laurie Hart, his adopter. "He's perfect in every way." (Photo by Laurie and Matt Hart) — Jack, a blind Chihuahua mix, “is my beautiful blonde boy,” says Laurie Hart, his adopter. “He’s perfect in every way.” (Photo by Laurie and Matt Hart)

Since 2005, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals has transported 80,000 cats and dogs to partner rescue groups, adoptive and foster homes, spay/neuter appointments, and veterinary providers with our Wheels of Hope transport program. Our six transport vans run seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, to help NYC’s shelter pets and feral and stray community cats. This month, we are bringing you stories of organizations and individuals who are saving the lives of animals in New York City with the help of our Wheels of Hope. We hope you enjoy these Wheels of Hope: Tales from the Road!

Laurie Hart, who does a lot of work with Pibbles & More Animal Rescue (PMAR), an organization that pulls cats and dogs from shelters, had her eyes on a Chihuahua mix named Charlie at Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C). When Laurie decided she had to adopt him, she and PMAR turned to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals’ Wheels of Hope (WOH) transport program to get Charlie from AC&C and drive him to his new home with Laurie and her husband, Matt.

According to his adopter, Laurie Hart, Charlie "has no idea he is small. He keeps everyone in the house in their place." (Photo by Laurie and Matt Hart) — According to his adopter, Laurie Hart, Charlie “has no idea he is small. He keeps everyone in the house in their place.” (Photo by Laurie and Matt Hart)

In a phone call Laurie had with the WOH driver when the driver stopped en route, she quickly determined that AC&C had given the driver the wrong Charlie! “It turns out,” recalls Laurie, “that there were two Chihuahua mixes named Charlie!” Given the option to have the driver turn around, return the first Charlie, and bring Laurie the second one, Laurie and her husband instantly decided to adopt them both! Charlie #1 arrived that day. Shortly thereafter, WOH returned with Charlie #2, who is now called Jack.

Charlie has a severe heart defect, deformed front legs, and epilepsy. Jack is blind in both eyes. “I only wish we had found these two boys sooner,” says Laurie. “They both fit perfectly into our home.

“I am actually thankful for the worker who gave the Wheels of Hope driver the ‘wrong’ Charlie the first time around!” she says. “And, I am especially thankful for the WOH program and drivers and all the work they do for these animals. They all work so hard to make sure these poor babies get to their forever homes.”

Keep the Wheels Turning for NYC’s Animals!

Our current Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals Wheels of Hope fleet has driven a combined 1,415,198 life-saving miles! Our oldest transport vans each have now logged more than 300,000 miles, and our maintenance costs continue to rise with each vehicle’s mileage. In order to sustain the incredible pace we have set for NYC’s animals, we now are in need of a new Wheels of Hope transport van.

This month, as we race to help even more animals find homes for the new year, please join our campaign to keep the Wheels of Hope reliably turning in 2015 and beyond. Your tax-deductible donation will help us continue to help others save precious lives and bring hope to the littlest New Yorkers in the new year. Donate now at http://bit.ly/TurnWheels.