The Friday night “Freedom Runs” that leave the Vance County Animal Shelter ferry animals from the confines of a kennel to foster or adoptive homes. For Brandon Boyd, president of the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society that sponsors the event, it’s a dream come true.
Boyd spoke with John C. Rose on Thursday during a new program called “The Local Skinny.” He started the RCAPS in 2011 and, a decade later, the rescue effort continues. “We’ve had a great start to the year,” he said, “rescue has just been fantastic.”
He is especially pleased to be working with the folks at the shelter in Granville County, and said his plan is to continue growing partnerships with other counties. “We’ve just got a lot of things going on for this new year that is very exciting,” Boyd said. The Granville shelter recently reported a record-low euthanasia rate of 6 percent, which Boyd called “fantastic news.” Incorporating the RCAPS model in Granville could push that percent rate even lower.
In the last month, the group has purchased two new vans to add to the “Freedom Run” fleet. They’re outfitted with kennels to transport the animals. “All of this is about saving lives and getting animals out” of the shelters and to adoption and rescue partners so the animals can find loving homes, Boyd said.
Of course, RCAPS relies on donations and volunteers to make the mission a reality. “There have been so many great things that have been done and so many great things that we are going to continue to do, thanks to the help and support of our wonderful donors,” Boyd said. “We’re only as strong as our network and the people that support this cause,” he said. There’s still a lot of great work to be done. And we plan to do it.”
Among the newer partnerships is Rescue Ranch, which operates in Statesville, NC. Consider volunteering to walk a dog at the animal shelter, he said, or check out RCAPS on FaceBook for a livestream of the Friday evening Freedom Runs.
“We’re doing everything we can to get these dogs out of here and placed in their forever home,” he said. “The work is amazing, the results are just astonishing,” Boyd said. “In my wildest dreams, I never would have believed that (RCAPS) could become what it has become and it makes me so happy and so proud to know that we’re making a difference and we’re saving lives.”
Visit rcaps.org to learn more.