Found Hearts hit the road with our help!

Found Hearts applied for Buddy’s Grant in 2021, and although we weren’t able to assist them at the time, when we reached out to all our rescue partners late last year to ask them if there was anything we could do to help them save more dogs at risk of euthanasia in rural and remote pounds, they reminded us that their original grant application was addressing just that need.

For that reason, we’re very pleased to let you know that earlier this year we awarded Found Hearts a grant for $35,000 to purchase a large van to allow them to safely transport dogs from pounds to the safety of rescue in a timely manner without being reliant on private transport companies. They are now in the process of getting the van fitted out and ready for it’s first trip!

Found Hearts have an extensive network of foster carers all along the north east and south east of Australia that regularly take in animals from interstate pounds that are in desperate need of a loving home. The van will allow them to do alternate fortnightly trips from Brisbane to Townsville via the coast and then back in-land stopping at rural pounds, before heading down from Brisbane to Melbourne and back through regional NSW collecting dogs along the way. They aim to transport about 12 critical dogs from high risk pounds on each fortnightly run, bringing an additional 140 dogs to safety in a 6 month period.

 

Where capacity allows Found Hearts intend to offer the transportation services to other rescue groups seeking to secure dogs from pounds in order to transport them to their desired location.

By providing a regular and reliable pick up service, Found Hearts hope to build further on their strong relationships with rural and regional pounds, saving dogs that otherwise may not be given the time to wait for an adoptive family or alternative transport solution to come along.

We’re very much looking forward to seeing the van on the road and saving lives and will share some updates with you soon!