Dogs can’t speak for themselves, so it’s important for humans to speak on their behalf. For 20 neglected dogs at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, they might not be alive today if it wasn’t for the support of many kind humans. The group of defenseless puppies was shipped to the United States illegally. Of course, animal organizations worked continuously to rescue them, but the CDC fought back. For days, it was unclear if these puppies would be shipped back to sudden death or if they’d get a second chance at life. Luckily, Chicago French Bulldog Rescue did everything they could to reach a happy ending.
The Jordan 15
20 innocent dogs arrived at the O’Hare International Airport in disgusting conditions. There were 16 French Bulldog puppies and four large breed puppies. The dogs had been shipped to the United States from Russia. When they arrived, they had no food or water and they were covered in feces. Each dog was shoved in a small crate with one other dog to save space. The scene was heartbreaking.
When the puppies were found, one of the French Bulldogs didn’t survive. Sadly, it was clear that these dogs had experienced neglect for days on end. Alliance Ground International, who runs the warehouse that the puppies were found in, was issued two citations for animal neglect. One was for 17 counts of animal neglect and the other was for neglect that might have caused death to a dog.
Chicago French Bulldog Rescue took in the 15 French Bulldog puppies who survived (aka the Jordan 15) while Chicago Animal Care and Control took in the four large dogs. However, the horror wasn’t over yet. Royal Jordanian Air, the company that transported the dogs to the United States, and the CDC fought to stop the rescues from saving the dogs. The main reason was that the puppies didn’t have the medical records needed to enter the country.
Save the Puppies!
The dogs were put in quarantine as the CDC instructed, but that wasn’t the end. The CDC ordered to have the puppies sent back to where they came from, which meant putting them in the same warehouse with the same airline. The people who sent the puppies to America likely forged signatures to get the puppies shipped in these conditions. If the puppies were to be returned, they’d likely just be euthanized.
Even though the rescue was told that the puppies would be returned, they still didn’t give up. Instead, they called upon their Facebook followers for help. Thousands of people donated money for these dogs’ care, signed petitions, and sent letters to government officials, pleading for a change.
“Saving these puppies’ lives was only achieved through acts both small and large of literally over 100,000 people,” said Mary Scheffke with Chicago French Bulldog Rescue. “We now must harness the momentum to fix the broken system and create permanent change.”
It might seem like a miracle, but these puppies are now safe! With so many animal lovers working together, anything is possible. Of course, the puppies still have a long road to recovery ahead of them, but at least they are in a safe place with people who truly care.
When Will the Puppies Be Adoptable?
The rescue gets one question more than any other: when will the puppies be adoptable? In fact, they are encouraging people to stop asking. After all, these puppies are still a long way from their forever homes.
Once the French Bulldog puppies are out of quarantine, they will be sent to foster homes. Volunteers have already stepped forward to foster the pups. Additionally, the rescue has received hundreds of requests to adopt them even though there are plenty of other French Bulldogs looking for homes. So, the rescue is asking people to be patient and wait until the rescue personally makes an announcement about the puppies’ adoptions.
Chicago French Bulldog Rescue takes pride in their adoption routines. It can be difficult to adopt from them because they have lots of requirements for potential adopters. This is because they want to ensure that every dog goes to a perfect home. Especially since French Bulldogs are in high demand, they want to make sure that the puppy’s family is looking for their perfect match and not just a puppy for a cheaper price.
If you’re interested in adopting a French Bulldog puppy, please consider looking at the other adoptable dogs first. People are often drawn to the cute faces of puppies, but adult dogs are usually much easier to care for. Also, if you can, consider donating to this dedicated dog rescue.
H/T: chicagotribune.com
Featured Image: Chicago French Bulldog Rescue Facebook
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