DIBSters!!! Thank you for taking part in this amazing day!!!

Hi Team, we have a big day tomorrow with lots of moving parts. As of right now, the expectation is that the flight lands at 5am, customs starts work at 6am, trucks get loaded for 830am and arrive at Location at 9am to get started!  We will keep you updated as we know more, but for now this is the plan.  Please plan on being there earlier than your expected time. Meaning, if your dog is on truck and offloading starts for 11am, maybe you aim for 10am. This allows for earlier timelines, and it allows you to get your supplies, or any other issues that may arise. Being late is not an option, so build a “be early” buffer into your planning.
If you are volunteering, same applies!  Be there with lots of time to spare and watch your group chat for any changes in times and schedule.  

Charter Date:  Saturday 12-June-2021

LOCATION: 959 Derry Road East, Mississauga (Derry and Dixie)
  • Lots of parking!  (Park in pink box or back/long part of orange)
  • Volunteers will be on hand to point you in the right direction.

Charter hired by: The Dog-Go Project
Participating Rescues(6):  DIBS, Canine Haven, SOS, Fetch & Releash, PAWS, Bark at the Moon
Total # of dogs: 135 approximately

Expected High Level Details:
  • UPDATED:  Flight will land approx. 5am
  • UPDATED:  Pickup is anticipated to be 9:30am for Truck 1 and 11am for Truck 2 (this time is dependent on so many factors and approximate only). Updates will be sent via our chat group, real time.
  • Plan your arrival time according to truck 1 vs truck 2. Truck info is shared at bottom of this page.
  • Arrive with lots of time to spare.  You need to get your supplies, get your collar/Tracker ready, etc. 30 minutes to spare would be cutting it close, so aim for a good buffer.
  • Location is in Stage 1 – must adhere to Covid protocols.  Wear a mask, social distance, respect others space.  
    1. Enter at green star and volunteers will give you coloured piece of paper that represents your rescue (we assume we will be green, but we may be surprised!)
    2. Supply pickup will be in P1 lot (shown on map as orange). End of parking section close to the red star.   (we will have a bit of DIBS swag for sale…helps with our fundraising efforts!)
    3. Waiting parking lot is your choice of P1 or P2 (as shown on map)
    4. Location for dog pickup is at at front/side of the building as shown in blue on map.  Do NOT approach this area until you get called: traffic jams really affect the flow.

Questions (Responses due by Monday June 7th)

  1. Are you traveling for more than 2 hours to pick up your foster dog?
  2. Are several dogs traveling home together, in your vehicle?
  3. Do you need a crate?  (Assembled or not?)  For crates, if they are assembled, they will need to fit into your car, so plan accordingly. We can not get crate measurements in advance, but know they send the biggest ones they own!
  4. ACTION:  If you answer YES to any of these questions, please send ONE email to contact@dibsrescue.com with CHARTER REQUIREMENTS in the subject line, and let us know the requirement. If you do not have any needs, please do not send us an email.

What you should have done by end of day Friday 11-June!

  1. Be in a group chat with DIBS for pick up date.  WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HIvgHXFzYkJHThn8pRyKmZ
  2. Review the map
  3. Read the details in https://dibsrescue.com/requiredreading/
  4. Know your Truck number and approximate pickup time.
  5. Foster-to-Adopt families should be prepared with:
    • A place for the dog to sleep at night.  Crate, if crate training (which most do).
    • A dog bed, toys, other luxuries for your pup
    • Age appropriate dog food, good quality, purchased by foster-to-adopt.  (Note you will get a $25 voucher for Ren’s that you can use towards food/supplies, but due to logistics, you will not receive this until after pickup. You will need to purchase your food in advance)
    • Our greatest fear is a lost dog!  Please read up before pick-up date:  https://dibsrescue.com/requiredreading/   

Whether you are fostering or part of our “foster to adopt” program, this info applies to you!  If we say “foster” please know this applies to both!

Tractive Overview:

Is your dog a flight risk????  YES!!!  We consider all dogs a flight risk. We err on the side of caution.  Double leashes, double collars, tags, Tractives etc.  There are no new rescue dogs that are not considered a flight risk. Be aware, be prepared!  (A lost dog will be up there with most traumatic experiences you will ever go through. No joke.)

DIBS requires all of our foster dogs to wear a Tractive device during all waking hours. And, many of our dogs require a Tractive as a condition of their adoption. We have some detail listed here: https://dibsrescue.com/tractive-the-101-info/   It’s a lot of info to absorb, so I will highlight here:

  • DIBS has provided a Tractive for the fostering process. It is in your foster bag and is ready to go!
  • Your immediate action when you received it – attach it to a spare collar (bring one if you can, but we will bring our container of spare collars for your use). Note: you will always want to keep the tracker on a separate collar from the leash (imagine, your dog pulls on the leash, collar slips off…you want the tracker to be on the dog, not on the collar that just fell off)
  • Read this document listed above. The tracker stays on until the dog is in their crate at night, you will use this time to charge it, and then it goes in first thing in the morning, before any doors open.
  • NEW:  This tracker stays with the dog and will be theirs post adoption. The fee of $70 is required to be paid to DIBS for the device. We will have purchased a 1 year subscription and will transfer that to the adopter, pro-rating the annual rate and the adopter will need to pay to remainder of the subscription.  Be sure you take care of these devices, so the adopters can appreciate the beauty of them!
  • NEW:  Any DIBS owned devices (in the pouches) will not be used for this flight.
  • Note: Tractives are the property of DIBS until the time they are purchased at adoption
  • Public DIBS website info on Tractive(same link as shared above): https://dibsrescue.com/tractive-the-101-info/
  • Info on DIBS Foster Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/dibs-foster/tractive-101/748431308913478/

When You Arrive – Saturday Details!

  • Volunteers will be on hand to point you in the right direction.  You will get a green piece of paper with your dogs name on it. Place on the dash of your car.
  • Once you spot the DIBS crew, get your supplies (you will need to approach supply station, just be socially respectful).
  • Get your car set up with blanket and car clip buckled in. Get your collar set up with Tractive and dog tag.  (Bring a spare collar with you!  This will be your secondary collar as the dog arrives with a nice collar from Mexico)   See photo! —->
  • Ensure your phone is fully charged and on. You will need to pay attention to messages!
  • Wait for your turn.
    • The waiting part won’t be fun.  Bring water, nibbles, learn Spanish, something to amuse you while you wait. There is a McDonald’s across the street and assume other spots in the area for food/bio breaks.  There will be no onsite locations for bathroom breaks.
    • Read up on required reading:  https://dibsrescue.com/requiredreading/
    • Olivia will use whatsapp chat to let people know whose turn it is. While we like to be polite, we found last time, stuff was fast and furious, so if you just see us say your dogs name, with no other instructions, know that your dog is being uncrated, and you need to proceed (in your car) to the pickup location.  There will be a volunteer to route traffic.
  • Ensure your mask is on – have your rear door or hatch opened  (this may require you to hop out of your car to get it ready for us)
  • Ruth, Dan, Nadia or Mary will clip the dog into your car.  Alternatively, if you have a crate in our car, ensure it’s ready to go!
  • If we forget to give you your vetting, ask Candice for it. Put it into your DIBS bag (then, once home you will need to scan/photo and send copy to contact@dibsrescue.com with dogs name and “vetting” in the subject line)
  • Before you drive away, be sure your dog is secure. If the DIBS volunteers weren’t able to fully secure the dog, you may need to do a bit extra. Attach your spare/prepared collar. If you have a backseat person, super, otherwise drive back to P2,  and using all of your yoga moves, twist around in your car to attach. This will need to be done in your enclosed vehicle, without opening the doors. (Your dog will be nervous and will bolt at first opportunity. You need to be one step ahead of this)

Supplies – The Specifics

  • Foster bags for all fosters and FTAs (Foster to Adopt). Contains seat belt for car, Ren’s cards, toy, treats, DIBS blanket. See Donna to get your bag first thing. Get back to your car and dig in: don’t set it aside!  Take out your Tractive, green seat belt clip, your DIBS tag, your blanket (for the car)
  • Collar #1-Dogs will come with one collar on.  Uncrating volunteers will attach collar and slip lead on each dog.
  • Collar #2-For ease of use with Tractive, bring your own additional collar to clip Tractive on.  Attach it along with existing collar. It is better to have your dog with these security devices on them, even if you think 2 collars doesn’t look cute.  We will not be able to provide collar sizes in advance, so you will need to guess. We will also have a bucket of spare collars that you can swap/use if needed. (Donations of old collars is happily accepted).  Dollar Tree typically carries collars that will fit this requirement.  PREPARE THIS ONSITE ONCE YOU GET YOUR SUPPLIES!  BE READY!
  • Dog food:
    • Providing dog food for foster families
    • We ask that FTA’s purchase their own preferred, age appropriate food.  This will help keep the dog’s feeding consistent, vs changing food post travel.
      • Please read up on DCM before choosing a food
      • There will be a $25 voucher for Ren’s that you can use to supplement this expense
  • Travel crates:  Will not be available unless this is prearranged by Wednesday (see grid below).
  • Crates/Coats/Donations for drop off with DIBS
    • You can bring that day – please leave with the team handing out supplies.  If you are leaving a crate, be sure it is taken apart and cleaned (with no items in between layers)
Reminders…..
  • masks are mandatory
  • COVID disclaimer:  If you have any symptoms, have been in contact with someone, are awaiting test results, etc….do not come!   Let us know and we can make alternate arrangements. Safety is main priority.
  • Tractives are mandatory!
  • Be sure your phone is charged (you need to be in the WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HIvgHXFzYkJHThn8pRyKmZ
  • At-hand, in your car – pre-dog – your collar with its gear on (tractive and ID tag), the seat belt (if you aren’t crating).  Be prepared. Once dog is in your car, it gets clipped in, tag, tractive, etc (unless crated – then this applies to the second they are removed from the crate). Ideal world – Ruth, Dan, Nadia can attach. Realistically, we will be moving quickly and may not have time. After you get the dog into your car, we ask that you move away to park and have your backseat person, or do your yoga moves to twist around to attach tag, tractive to the dog (all without opening the car dog)
  • NOBODY can be late. Literally – NOBODY!
  • If you have questions beyond what is covered here – please do NOT ping me – use the group chat. (Read all this stuff first tho….)

Anticipated Chaos:

  • There will be multiple dogs per crate. The dogs will be together based on canine compatibility, not based on rescue.
  • The only identifier will be on the collar (typically a paper tag has the dogs name on it)
  • There will be a lot of people (leads, fosters, etc)
  • There will be 6 rescues in attendance (DIBS volunteers will be wearing green)

How to help with the Chaos:

  • Be on time
  • Be sure to read this info in full and be prepared.
  • Leads will be managing a lot of things at one time (just be aware of that – sometimes people jump in breaking the natural flow of the overall plan)
  • Dogs must be double/triple secured at all times.  Collars with security gear need to be ready.
  • Bring a few cleaning supplies. Pup may pee/poop/puke in crate and there may be a bit of mess. (Ideally, you never want to bathe/traumatize dog day 1, but if dog is a total mess, you may need to. Fosters discretion, erring on side of kindness)
  • Stay in the appropriate location until you are called. Lining up too soon, will negatively affect the traffic flow.

You are ready to go when:

  1. You have your supplies
  2. Dog is in car, with seatbelt on.
  3. Slip lead is still attached
  4. DIBS tag is on the collar
  5. Tractive is attached to collar
  6. You have vetting package for your dog.
  7. We are not expecting meds for any dogs, but making note of this, just in case.
  8. You have said to the dog “Welcome to Canada, (insert dogs name) !  You are going to have the best life!!!”
  9. Go straight home!  Your dog needs to decompress and will need time before any errands or visits (plan minimum of one week for them to acclimate before any adventures)

Foster Dog Interaction

  • Tip for when at home – get them outside asap. This MUST be in a secure spot (yard, gates closed, tractive on, etc.). Have food and water ready, as they’ve had a long day.
  • Put Tractive on the dog right away. Charge nightly. Tractive is to always be on, except sleep time. Use in house as well as many dogs escape via front door.  Check out “tips” section here:  https://dibsrescue.com/tractive-the-101-info/
  • Review vetting materials. Compare age and weight to bio listed in DIBS chat. Vetting may have alternate rescue info on it (perhaps the health certificate). Do NOT include that paperwork in your scan to contact@dibsrescue.com, and ensure that does NOT get passed along to adopter. If you have any questions about what is needed, check in with Candice Brook.

FINAL LIST!!!!

  • Truck allocation is in!!! Do know this MAY change the day of (last minute changes at the airport)  UPDATE – dogs listed in RED have changed trucks
  • Pickup is anticipated to be 9:30am for Truck 1 and 11am for Truck 2 (this time is dependent on so many factors and approximate only). Updates will be sent via our chat group, real time.
  • Reminder – be sure you have joined the Whatsapp group chat:  https://chat.whatsapp.com/HIvgHXFzYkJHThn8pRyKmZ