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PET RESCUE Gettin' em Home transports animals about to be euthanized to new 'forever' homes Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 14, 2015 at 4:44 PM Updated Apr 15, 2015 at 2:41 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 14, 2015 at 4:44 PM Updated Apr 15, 2015 at 2:41 PM » Social News Five pooches from Southern California headed for death row were rescued over the weekend with the help of a new Josephine County-based nonprofit called Gettin’ em Home Transport. The brainchild of Selma retiree Pam Smith, Gettin’ em Home uses volunteers to help relocate animals from shelters with high-euthanization rates — often hours before the animals are killed — to rescue organizations and adoptive homes. The five dogs rescued last weekend, Chihuahuas Gizmo, Moya and Ena, pit bull-mix Ryder and pug-griffon Noel, stopped in Medford Saturday on their journey to new homes between Eugene and Washington state. Some 16 volunteer drivers, four monitors, one coordinator and an overnight host in Medford pieced together a travel itinerary for the dogs, who came from three cities in Southern California. Medford groomer Charlene Brown provided the dogs with belly rubs, water, food and beds for the night after Smith collected the animals from a meeting point in Mount Shasta. "It's so important because these poor unwanted animals, some of them come from shelters that kill and some are street animals; they need loving homes,” Brown said. “If people are going to go to all the trouble of bringing them these long distances, you know they're going to take good care of them. "Normally I do the overnighting. Everyone can give whatever they're able. A lot of people are retired and have time to do even more. We've brought dogs from Idaho and even Iran. Each driver takes 100 miles, and when you put everyone's efforts together, it gets the job done." Transports are coordinated mostly via Facebook and cellphone. Medford resident Charyl Ray, who spends most of her weekends helping transport animals between Redding and Eugene and currently is without a dog of her own, says the work gives her "a dog fix" and the satisfaction of helping save lives. "We transport anywhere from one to five or more dogs per run, depending on factors such as adoptions, rescues willing to take the dogs and sanctuaries or fosters," said Ray, a human resources generalist with Rogue Valley Manor who signed on to the effort six months ago. Ray said some of her favorite happy endings included a white shepherd puppy brought from Iran to receive care in the U.S. for neurological issues, a blind husky pup named Stevie and a tiny Chihuahua named Cupcake that rode shotgun in Ray's lap from Roseburg to Blaine, Washington. "There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I am a small part of helping a dog who would otherwise be euthanized or left to languish in a shelter go to a loving, forever home," Ray said. "I have met some of the most amazing, caring people in the world who are fellow transporters — some who have become wonderful friends. It truly takes a village, and this village of volunteers is the finest." Smith, a lifelong advocate for animals, started Gettin’ em Home 13 months ago after retiring from her career as a medical transcriptionist. The organization has grown to about 260 volunteers who have rescued more than 350 animals. It was granted nonprofit status earlier this month. Smith said she tried working with breed-specific rescue groups at first but then realized the region's greatest need was for someone to coordinate rescue transport. "One of the biggest issues in rescue work is that places couldn't transport from out of state because there wasn't anyone providing that in this area," she said. In addition to rescue work, Gettin’ em Home helps with other transport needs. Smith said volunteer drivers once helped transport four cats and a dog for a paraplegic pet owner who was unable to relocate her animals during an interstate move. For more information, see www.gettinemhome.com. Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected] . By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 14, 2015 at 4:44 PM Updated Apr 15, 2015 at 2:41 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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