St Croix to Puerto Rico to Miami to Orlando
That was the journey for 19 Crucian Island dogs and pups who were en route to their future adopted homes in Florida and beyond. Through the remarkable efforts of the “Paws From Paradise” program, a network of volunteers, fosters, air cargo companies, airlines, training/boarding organizations, and pet adoption agencies collaborated to save and give new life to these precious canines. Every trip is a testament to the dedication and love shared by those involved in this heartwarming endeavor.
No journey is the same:
The dogs and puppies each have their own unique beginnings—some rescued, abandoned, left behind, lost, or simply brought to the St Croix Animal Welfare Center (SCAWC). Regardless of their circumstances, these animals receive shelter, care, nourishment, and love at the center. Efforts are made to reunite lost dogs with their local owners, but after a designated period, the dogs and pups are prepared for adoption, eagerly awaiting the journey to their future families.
Partnerships Preserving Life:
SCAWC has formed partnerships with various shelter and rescue organizations throughout the United States with the shared goal of saving dogs’ lives. These collaborations are driven by a deep commitment to rescuing animals and ensuring they find loving homes. Through the joint efforts of these organizations, Paws From Paradise has achieved a remarkable feat—placing 100% of the dogs on these transports into forever homes, as stated by the program coordinator, Wayne Myers. Witnessing these Crucian critters find their new families is a rewarding accomplishment for all involved.
Addressing the Island’s Influx of Dogs:
A critical part of the Paws From Paradise program is keeping up with the influx of new dogs. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, SCAWC’s facilities have been limited in space until their new facility is ready in 2025. To address this challenge, volunteers and fosterers play a crucial role by temporarily housing the dogs before they are transferred to the states. This interim care not only provides the canines with personal attention and training but also facilitates local adoptions on St. Croix, creating loving bonds along the way.
The Puppy Express:
Once the logistics and travel plans are coordinated by Myers and his team, the dogs and puppies are ready to embark on their journey. The first stop is the current SCAWC facility (near 5 Corners), where volunteers and fosterers gather to load the animals into travel kennels, bidding them some heartfelt goodbyes. Attachments are made and tears are often shed. From there, the dogs are transported by Flemings Transport at Henry Rohson Airport, where they are loaded onto planes operated by Air Cargo Carriers. Myers and a dedicated team of volunteers clean and prepare the kennels for travel with ice cups and treats. Many stay to ensure the dogs are securely and safely placed on the plane before their next stop in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, there is a layover, so they are given temporary care, including walks, meals, cleaning, and playtime until they board another cargo carrier named Amerijet, which takes them to Miami.
Once stateside the dogs are taken to their final stop which is the boarding/training and rescue/adoption partners. The group of pups I witnessed was heading to Orlando Pet Alliance which has proved to be a great partner for placing Crucian dogs. Note too, that Paradise Freight and Britt’s Bow Wow take care of cleaning and returning the travel kennels free of charge, helping to minimize expenses and ensuring the program’s efficiency.
According to Myers, several partner rescue operations regard Crucian dogs (sometimes called Crucian Short Legs) as designer dogs with their long body and short-legged characteristics and wonderful hardy temperament. Many of these dogs find their forever homes within just one day of being made available for adoption.
An Operation of Love:
As you can see there is an incredible number of moving parts in transporting these precious cargos of dogs and puppies to their final destinations. And while there is almost a military precision to the logistical aspect of moving cargo, rest assured every trip is planned and executed with the health and well-being of these critters at the forefront of all their operations. This truly is a labor of love for everyone involved and it shows.
The St. Croix Animal Welfare Center’s website states:
This program has been an important part of our life-saving efforts for many years. Transferring pets from one shelter to another stateside has become common practice in the mainland, where a shelter or rescue group in one area has a need for adoptable pets, while another has an abundance of pets but few adopters. These programs save lives!
We agree… To date over 130 dogs have found new homes and there are roughly two puppy flights per month.
These flights are amazingly mostly driven by donations!
Want to help?
There are several ways to help St. Croix Animal Welfare Center. Check the links below.