Submitted by Caroline Fedele
While restoring electricity on St. Thomas late in 2017, Rich Fedele found many stray and abandoned dogs in tough shape, several chained to poles or porches on abandoned properties.
An animal lover, he bought food, water, and collars, then worked with the Humane Society of St. Thomas’s (HSST) rescue efforts.
At the behest of Tricia Daley, all four Bedford schools and Chip-in Farm collected donations for local shelters receiving dogs from St Thomas and recently delivered supplies to Save A Dog in Sudbury. The group sends extra special thanks everyone who so generously contributed to this effort.
The HSST is working to arrange transportation to send abandoned animals to off-island shelters willing to accept adoptable pets. The project also creates space to continue to be able to shelter additional dogs in need. The next step is expected to be an airlift of dogs from St. Thomas to the Worcester Airport and the Worcester Animal Rescue League.
Approximately 15 dogs will be arriving on the evening of Wednesday, January 10, and help is needed to transport them to Save a Dog in Sudbury or a shelter in New Hampshire. If you can help, please contact Caroline Fedele [email protected].
There is also a need to fund a variety of medical expenses at the Humane Society of St. Thomas, Save a Dog and Worcester Animal Rescue. Here are there 3 donation sites, and if your company matches your donation, its impact is doubled:
- https://www.gofundme.com/petswithwingsfreedomflight (*When you donate here to HSTT – please comment to help with heartworm treatment).
- https://www.saveadog.org/donations.asp#online
- https://worcesterarl.org/donate/
Thank you for such heartwarming and important work! Our island rescue dog was the best dog that my husband and I ever owned in our entire lives including childhood. Happy to help with the pup pick up too! I will reach out.