Every time we travel to Tennessee, we have the pleasure of staying with Laura Prechel, who runs CASA Transport which moves thousands of animals out of Tennessee to shelters and rescues in the north every year. With their CASA Clinic, they also spay and neuter thousands of shelter animals.
When we stay with Laura we get to hang out with her current foster dogs (right now she has ALVIN – who is an all capitals dog and an absolute love – if you’re looking for a great friend who is good with other dogs and people and totally handsome, he’s your guy!).
When we visited in February 2025, we had the opportunity to watch the vetting for the CASA transport headed out that day and see this amazing organization in action.
If you read the stats updated weekly on their website, www.Casatransport.org, you will be astounded. CASA has moved 9589 dogs and cats out of Tennessee into rescues all over the country, but primarily to Illinois and Indiana since they began five years ago. Last year, when everyone was struggling to move animals, CASA moved 2525 out.
They network and transport dogs from 48 shelters in 30 Tennessee counties. Before they move the animals, they are examined by a vet, given health certificates, age-appropriate vaccinations (including rabies), and dewormed at their clinic. This vet work and the transports themselves are paid for by CASA which is a nonprofit and relies on donations and some income from its clinic.
The clinic has four paid part-time veterinarians and 2 volunteer veterinarians who also perform discounted spay/neuter surgeries on shelter and community animals. Since its inception three years ago, they have spayed/neutered 7673 animals in Tennessee.
The CASA vans, driven by volunteers, have traveled 310,000 miles to get animals to safety.
We’ve watched as this organization started with Laura rescuing dogs out of her basement and has grown into an organization saving thousands of animals with dozens of volunteers, operating its clinic and transport out of a small ranch house not far from Laura’s house.
They’ve outgrown that space and are in the midst of a capital campaign to buy a bigger space so they can help more animals. You can contribute to the capital campaign fund here: https://www.casatransport.org/a-casa-for-casa
A new venture begun this year is CASA PAWS, which publishes children’s books that teach humane care written by Robin Lapre. Robin uses the first book, DOGGIE DOS AND DON’TS AS TOLD BY CADENCE THE DOG (Laura’s former dog), to facilitate children’s programs in schools with a mission of educating the next generation.
The book is available in paperback and hardcopy on Amazon, but you can order bulk copies at a discount from CASA if you’d like to give them out at your shelter.
If you’d like more information on the book or to invite Robin to speak to your group, visit the Facebook page and message Robin there or reach out via info@casatransport.org.
Cara
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Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues was published in January of 2025. It is filled with stories and ideas to help everyone be part of the solution. You can buy a hardback or paperback copy for yourself and/or buy a copy for a shelter or rescue through our website. It is also available on Amazon in paperback and ebook. We are looking for opportunities to share a presentation of the ideas in the book and facilitate conversations about how we can work together to find solutions for our shelters. If you have a dog-hearted group that would like to connect, contact Cara@wwldo.org.
To see our Emmy-nominated, award-winning short documentary, Amber’s Halfway Home, click here.
For more information on any of our projects, to talk about rescue in your neck of the woods, or partner with us, please email cara@WWLDO.org.
Yvonne
Amazing accomplishments!!