Dogs headed north for hoped-for adoption

GAINESVILLE - A journey of more than 1,000 miles begins Wednesday for 60 dogs from the Hall County Animal Shelter.

They are headed to the "Shelter Dogs Rock!" expo in Connecticut and hopeful adoption.

Dr. Meghan Seabolt, a full time veterinarian and active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, arranged the trip and will accompany the dogs on their trek to the northeast.

Hall County's is is the first shelter from Georgia to participate in this adoption event and, out of all the pets headed to the expo, their journey is the longest.

Organizers of the trip says the dogs are being sent to Connecticut because the demand for adopting pets in the Gainesville area is not nearly as high as it is in the northeast and the dogs are getting a second chance at life they might not otherwise had.

In preparation for their trip, the dogs were vaccinated against H3N8, canine influenza, because they will be exposed to other canines coming from areas that recently experienced dog flu outbreaks.

Dr. Meghan Seabolt, a full time veterinarian and active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, arranged this trip and will accompany the dogs on their journey which begins at 5:00 Wednesday afternoon.