Paws Across Pittsburgh eyeing new bus to keep up with pet rescues
Diane Raible’s newest foster is an 8-month-old pit bull mix who was shot through his thigh at close range.
“His name is Axel, and he’s such a good boy,” said Raible, co-vice president of the Tarentum-based Paws Across Pittsburgh.
Axel underwent three blood transfusions and an amputation, but is expected to recover. He is among the hundreds of “broken little souls” that the nonprofit has rescued since it was founded six years ago, Raible said.
Run from a big, old house along East Sixth Avenue, Paws Across Pittsburgh has grown by leaps and bounds in just a few years. There is a list of 230 foster parents to care for homeless, abused or otherwise unwanted dogs and cats.
The group is fundraising for a new transport vehicle to assist in weekly runs to Morgantown, W.Va.
“We do tons of driving,” Raible said of the 180-mile round trips. “We pull a lot of animals from high-kill shelters down South and we meet rescuers in Morgantown to transport them back here.”
Volunteers use a van that was donated a few years back. It has become unreliable and requires frequent maintenance, according to Yvonne McAvoy, Paws Across Pittsburgh co-vice president.
They also bought an older-model box truck for larger transports.
“Both of our vehicles have seen better days,” McAvoy said.
The group is hoping to raise about $25,000 to purchase a used bus that could adequately carry several rescue pets of all sizes. It also could be used to transport animals to vet appointments and to collect supplies.
A GoFundMe had brought in nearly $7,000 as of Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Volunteers have appealed to local dealerships for a donation or an affordable deal, McAvoy said.
“We saved over 1,000 animals last year,” she said. “We can’t do it without a vehicle to get them to Pittsburgh.”
Paws Across Pittsburgh is 100% volunteer-run. Each rescue animal is provided vet care, socialization skills and other needs while in foster care.
“Our goal is to find a loving, forever home for each one of our animals,” McAvoy said.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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