This story has been updated with a comment from Bering Air.
A Nome-based nonprofit animal welfare organization is suspending animal rescues in Western Alaska following an unexpected change in its airfare costs.
Since its inception in 2013, PAWS of Nome has offered animal rescue and welfare services for communities across the Bering Strait region. The nonprofit’s President Emily Stotts said PAWS has rehomed over 3,000 animals in that time.
Nome serves as a hub for 16 villages in the Bering Strait region. If an animal needs a new home, PAWS sends a kennel out to the village. Once back in Nome, PAWS vaccinates the animal and forwards it on to its new home or other non-profit partners.
Stotts said Bering Air used to provide free freight for food, supplies and pet travel. In 2021, Bering Air cut its deal to only cover freight coming from villages to Nome, effectively halving its sponsorship. Then on Tuesday, Stotts said she found out about an additional cut.
“I wasn’t expecting an email notifying PAWS of Nome that we had 17 days before a 50% reduction in freight donations is to take effect,” Stotts said. “It’s disheartening but at the same time, inevitable. The cost of freight is felt by everyone, even those who make the prices.”
Bering Air President Russell Rowe said in an email to KNOM that Stotts was first notified of the changes on June 13. He said the initial message requested "some controls and process" be established to verify how dogs were being shipped and approved in order for the agreement to continue.
Rowe said there has not been any communication between the two parties on the matter since the June email. He said the recent change was in part to "get some progress on the controls" Bering Air had requested.
In response to the Tuesday email, Stotts said PAWS will be forced to suspend its Rescue/Rehome program. Instead, PAWS will focus its efforts on bringing veterinarians to Nome for more routine care, with the hopes of reviving Rescue/Rehome once additional funding has been secured.
Stotts said a single kennel can cost $30 to $55 to send to a village, but once loaded with an animal could cost $100 to $180 to get back to Nome, depending on weight.
“The short term and immediate term impacts on PAWS’ ability to serve the region will be felt hard and fast,” Stotts said. “It’s no secret that the Rescue/Rehome program has been hanging by a thread because of various factors, most of which are beyond our control.”
Stotts said without additional funding, people living in the villages will feel the brunt of the impact.
“Not only will owners need to absorb this financial gap to get animals sent in, the communities at large will experience an overflow of unwanted animals with nowhere to go - we already can’t move them quickly enough,” Stotts said. “But without that missing piece of enforcement and education in the villages or support from leadership entities, the Rescue/Rehome program is now at a virtual standstill.”
PAWS will carry on, Stotts said, albeit with reduced services.
“Our path forward will include a shift of focus to prioritizing the development of the Community Veterinary Clinic. Preventative care and early intervention are the way we can start laying the groundwork for the Rescue/Rehome program to have the best chance at making a successful return,” Stotts said.
