Central Arkansas Rescue Transport (CART) announced that it has received a $25,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help fund its pet transportation program.
CART collaborates with a coalition of eight Arkansas rescues and shelters to transport cats and dogs from overcrowded shelters to destination partners in six states.
“These transports provide access to additional services that these animals need, but local organizations may not always be able to provide due to limited resources and the overwhelming numbers of animals at risk,” said Tricia Power, director of the Bryant Shelter. “It is through this coalition that we are able to make these important connections to other organizations that may be able to provide the care that we cannot, increasing our ability to save the lives of pets at risk in our area. We are proud to be a part of this Coalition and hope to continue to be a part of this life-saving partnership well into the future. Moving just a single animal out of a shelter or rescue group can free up resources to save more pets in need.”
CART’s Coalition members will utilize these monies to cover the costs associated with preparing animals for transport.
Earlier this summer, Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center, CART’s newest coalition member, had its first transport. The shipment carried 14 cats, pups, and kittens from several rescues and shelters in Central Arkansas to a shelter partner in the Chicagoland area.
“As many communities grapple with animals staying longer in shelters and work to build out long-term solutions, partnerships with regions who have the capacity to bring in animals is paramount to our collective lifesaving efforts,” said Heidi Marston, director of pet placement initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “We’re proud to support CART’s Coalition members, such as the City of Bryant shelter, and their work to ensure adoptable pets find their families as quickly as possible. “