'Seeing people’s faces light up': Truckers help pets get to their forever homes
A group of truckers and dispatchers are helping rescued animals unite with their new owners.
“We mainly focus on rescues, transporting dogs from rescue to their new forever homes or from rescue to rescue,” said Josh Aldrich, president and co-founder of Fur the Haul of It Critter Courier Pet Rescue Transport.
The non-profit pet transport group was created five years ago by Aldrich, who lives in the Vancouver area, after he heard of truck drivers helping to deliver animals for breeders.
With 15 truck drivers involved, the group estimates they handle hundreds of animals every year.
“Last time I was in Saskatoon, I took eight cats from Sask Cat — a mom with seven kittens, I took them from here all the way to Vancouver,” Aldrich said.
The group depends on the cooperation of truck drivers, dispatchers and shelters. It operates primarily in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Aldrich says some drivers have their own trucks and others depend on the understanding and generosity of pet-loving employers.
“I do love it and it’s so worth it seeing people’s faces light up,” said Aldrich.
The group accepts donated items and uses funds to buy puppy pads, food, collars and leashes.
Aldrich also transports a lot of wildlife with special permits.
“I’ve had everything, like baby skunks. I had a badger this year, a river otter, tons of baby deer and elk over the years.”
Saskatchewan’s transportation coordinator Brandi Oliver says some people don’t adopt rescued pets because they can’t find them in their region. And that’s one of the reasons why she volunteers her time to the organization, to get pets to people who want them.
“Every animal deserves to be happy and in a loving environment,” said Oliver.
She says the people receiving the pets are overjoyed and relieved when they get their delivery.
“It’s companionship for any age. They are there to help, they want to love and they love unconditionally no matter what,” she said.
Brandi says she’s assisted in arranging the delivery of special cargo to some remote places and seen some interesting critters.
“Our drivers are up for anything; pigs, emus, cats, kittens, hawks and eagles. No matter what it is let us know we’ll see if we can help,” said Oliver.
Aldrich says the critter courier group has enriched his life and the dogs motivate him to take longer walks at the start and end of each day on the road.
“It’s an excuse to get out and exercise. If I didn’t have something to take for a walk I’d be up to 300 pounds, so it’s a lot healthier,” said Aldrich.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.