Homeward Trails Animal Rescue Prepares for Unprecedented Event to Save 200 Animals

FAIRFAX, Va. - May 10, 2023 - PRLog -- On May 16, two teams with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue's (HT) Trails UP program will travel a combined 1,600 miles to save the lives of 200 cats and dogs in an unprecedented effort to provide free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines and microchips for animals that would otherwise face the likelihood of homelessness and unwanted pregnancy.

Homeward Trails is the largest private animal rescue and shelter in Northern Virginia, founded in 2001. Its Trails UP program brings resources, education and free spay and neuter services to some of Virginia's most under-resourced communities.

The Trails UP team has been working for months securing surgical slots and information on the lucky animals who will receive these services. The animals are located in Galax City, Carroll County, Grayson County and Buchanan County, VA – some of Virginia's most rural and underserved communities.

"We're so excited to offer these free services to animals and the people who care for them. So many of these animals are loved, whether they live indoors or outdoors, are friendly or feral. The fact is, each animal we serve faces the strong likelihood of an unwanted pregnancy, which will result in a family ending up in an overcrowded animal shelter and possibly euthanized, " said Sue Bell, executive director of Homeward Trails.

"So often we hear from humans that they love the animal they took in when she wandered up to their farm, but they cannot afford to get her spayed. After litters of kittens and puppies being born and either dying or ending up at a shelter, they're desperate and so grateful for this help. It's not that they don't care – it's that they're literally trying to help these animals but cannot afford to do it all the way," says Bell.

Homeward Trails is partnering with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) who will bring two state-of-the-art mobile surgical units to City of Galax for the sterilization of dogs from Galax City, Carroll and Grayson Counties. Simultaneously, Homeward Trails will be working with community members in Buchanan County to provide Trap-Neuter-Return for 80 cats.

"Being able to serve these communities is truly so effective and rewarding. We cannot rescue our way out animal homelessness and making spay/neuter available will save thousands of lives and truly help the humans who love these animals," Bell said. "We welcome donations for this effort as we cannot make it happen without support. The cost to vaccinate, microchip a dog is $120 and a cat, $80. Our Trails UP program has already provided spay/neuter for more than 1,200 animals in two years but doing 200 animals at once is a big task."

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