Screwworm preventing pet flights

EAST TEXAS – Some rescued dogs and cats from East Texas are being prevented from leaving the state on transport flights due to New World screwworm concerns in Texas. More than sixty animals from East Texas shelters were scheduled to be transported by Wings of Rescue to adoptive homes and out-of-state partners, but as a precaution, some destination states are no longer accepting animals from Texas. Shelters claim that because fewer animals can be placed out of state as a result of the change, overcrowding may get worse.

New York and Pennsylvania, two of the shelter’s top destination states, have stopped accepting animals from Texas, according to Kansas Pierce, director of the City of Athens Animal Shelter. According to Pierce, a flight of fifty-four dogs and cats from the Athens shelter is planned for next week. Only 28 dogs are now anticipated to be able to depart and travel to Maryland, which is still accepting animals. According to Pierce, Natasha, a Great Pyrenees mix, and her two puppies are among the dogs that were abandoned.

Pierce stated, “That flight would have probably wiped out almost our whole adoption floor.” “It is incredible, but in a day or two we would have been full again.”