Screwworm preventing dog rescue

KILGORE – There are now 27 confirmed New World Screwworm cases in the United States, 26 of them in Texas. A ripple effect of the worm’s spread is already being felt Rusk County, where ‘That Crazy Dog Lady’ has been forced to stop intake of dogs until 20 are transported to New York, which is one of the states now restricting dogs coming from Texas.

“Our major partner is in the state of New York which has banned entry from any Texas dogs,” owner of ‘That Crazy Dog Lady’ Vanessa Cogswell said. “So, we were supposed to have 20 puppies leaving on Monday to our partner in New York, and unfortunately, they will not be able to travel.”

Her non-profit provides rescue and foster services in rural communities without animal control services.

“There is no animal control in the areas that we work to assist. So, we assess the community by providing vaccines, vet care, food and then try to network the puppies on to transports to other states.” Cogswell explained.

Last year alone, Cogswell helped more than 350 East Texas strays find new homes. The timing of this spreading parasite couldn’t be worse. Texas shelters are already stretched thin. Cogswell said if transport continues to slow more dogs could be left with nowhere to go.

“Well, we’re in an overpopulation crisis to begin with, and that’s why we transport out so many animals. So now with the screwworm slowing down transports, it makes it even harder. Our shelters are going to be overflowing,” Cogswell said.

Cogswell explained that the best way the community can help is by spaying and neutering their pets to help reduce the number of unwanted litters entering already crowded shelters.

She is now searching for additional transport partners in other states.