About Us
Furry Freight Shelter Transport is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) public charity.
The mission of Furry Freight Shelter Transport is to to reduce the euthanasia rate of adoptable pets.
Our Programs
Transport
Our Transport program saves lives by transporting dogs and cats from overpopulated areas to areas of high demand to reduce the euthanasia rate of adoptable pets.
Studies show that transport provides a means of addressing population imbalance issues in communities. It supports the movement of animals from shelters overburdened with more animals than they have the capacity to care for and a limited market demand to shelters with fewer animals and higher market demand thus reducing euthanasia and saving animal lives.
Spay it Forward
Our Spay it Forward program was created to help decrease pet overpopulation at the source, by helping pets whose owners can't afford to fix them. In December of 2021 our first dog was fixed in Tulsa at no cost to the owner, and the Spay it Forward program began. We now have regular appointments set up through our rescue partners.
We are currently in talks with other low cost spay and neuter clinics to increase this program to combat the massive number of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies surrendered to local shelters that already are forced to euthanize for space. We are focusing on large breed dogs and cats, as those are the hardest to adopt out and are most at risk in shelters.
If you would like to help in the efforts to reduce euthanasia of adoptable pets in overpopulated areas please consider a donation of any size to our Spay it Forward program by indicating "Spay it Forward" in the comments. If you would like to sponsor a surgery for a pet in need each surgery costs on average $70.
Our Leadership
Kim Wilken
Board Member
Kim is currently a registered nurse living in Bend, Oregon. After moving to Oregon and seeing the space available, and knowing other areas of the country were still euthanizing for space, decided to start transporting animals north. She has had a love for companion animals since she was a child and has spent many hours volunteering at rescues, shelters, a high volume spay and neuter clinic and practicing TNR for community cats. Other interests include hiking, paddle boarding, traveling and spending time with her husband Bryan and two spoiled dogs.
Olivia Brumwell
Board Member
Born and raised in Bend, Oregon, Olivia has supported Furry Freight for over three years through a variety of volunteer efforts before joining the board. Her background includes experience as a veterinary assistant and a long-standing commitment to animal welfare, including fostering and volunteering with local spay and neuter programs. Olivia lives with her two rescue dogs, Harvey and Aero, and works as the Director of Operations at a youth-centered nonprofit. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, she enjoys rock climbing, vintage furniture restoration, and gardening.
Patty Baragona
Board Member
After working for 20+ years as a Bookkeeper, Office Manager and retail Assistant Manager, Patty and her husband, Paul, retired to Bend in 2014. Patty immediately started volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and later became a full-time employee. Patty was the volunteer Treasurer for the Bend Pickleball Club for 2019-2020. In 2024, Patty learned of and became involved with Furry Freight after meeting Kim at Bingo night and has helped with their mission since. Her favorite pastimes are pickleball and her rescue puppy, Lucy.
Furry Freight Shelter Transport is an Oregon registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible retroactive to our incorporation date of 2/6/2018.
Employer Identification (Tax ID) Number: 82-4423390
For copies of our federal tax exemption application with forms, determination letter, and annual returns (once available), write us at PO Box 93, Bend OR 97709.