Clare Callison of Austin Pets Alive! shares, ‘Darla, the golden retriever, is now a completely transformed dog post-rescue,’ says PEOPLE.
Darla narrowly avoided euthanasia in July at Laredo Animal Care Services, a struggling Texas shelter. On her scheduled day, the 8-month-old golden retriever, paralyzed by fear, had to be wheeled to the euthanasia room in a barrow. Fortunately, Clare Callison, Director of National Operations for Austin Pets Alive!, intervened.
“I knew it was around the time of day when the shelter does routine euthanasia for opening up kennel space,” Callison tells PEOPLE.
The rescue worker asked where the golden retriever was going. “The employee said, ‘To the euthanasia room,'” she recalls.
Callison followed up with a few more questions about Darla, including asking why the dog was slated to be euthanized.
Austin Pets Alive!, a nonprofit dedicated to saving animals from euthanasia, collaborated with Laredo Animal Care Services and swiftly arranged Darla’s rescue. Callison and her team were on-site for a vaccination program when they spotted Darla in a wheelbarrow.
Despite imminent euthanasia plans, Austin Pets Alive! had a pre-arranged transport flight with Dog is My CoPilot to Mile High Lab Mission in Colorado. On July 29, after a thorough vet exam, Darla flew to Denver, where her foster family, organized through Mile High Lab Mission, eagerly awaited her.
The transformation was profound. Instead of entering another shelter, Darla stepped into a foster home upon landing, marking a remarkable turnaround.
Callison hopes Darla’s story inspires involvement in animal rescue. She emphasizes the critical need for contributions and suggests fostering, adopting, volunteering, or donating.
Austin Pets Alive! not only cares for dogs like Darla but also tackles systemic issues contributing to pet homelessness, working towards comprehensive solutions nationally, with a focus on Texas.