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Everglades Dog Rescuers Brave Dangers for Abandoned Pets
6 Apr
Summary
- Rescuers search through treacherous Everglades for abandoned animals.
- An 'epidemic' of pet dumping plagues the Everglades swamp.
- Nonprofits face capacity and funding crises due to animal abandonment.
In the dense, humid Everglades, volunteer dog rescuers like Gloria Cabal and Hector Vega navigate treacherous terrain, searching for abandoned pets. They recently rescued a pit bull mother named Jana and one of her puppies, Jenny, after finding the other pup deceased. The rescuers describe an "epidemic" of people dumping unwanted dogs and cats in the swamp.
Local animal rescue organizations, such as Everglades Angels Dog Rescue, are facing a "crisis for capacity" and funding shortages. These nonprofits, along with overcrowded municipal shelters, struggle to house the increasing number of abandoned animals. Reasons for abandonment include rising living costs and unmanageable pets.
Rescuers face significant personal dangers, including encounters with wildlife and health risks, while dedicating their time and finances to save these animals. Despite the challenges, organizations like Everglades Angels have successfully rescued and adopted hundreds of dogs over the past decade, though they still had to turn away animals last year due to limited space.
