Pets are not just animals that are kept at home. They are furry companions that become an integral part of anyone’s family. However, many immigrant families are having their beloved pets taken away from them at the border.
Families who enter the U.S. are being separated from their loyal companions, their pets, during processing. While Border Patrol cannot look after the pets and El Paso’s Animal Shelter is overcrowded, numerous pets are going unclaimed across the Borderland.
Bridge Pup Rescue is a local initiative that helps reunite immigrant families with their beloved pets, recently stepped up to the plate.
Founder and Director of Bridge Pup Rescue, Ruby Montana shared that the organization initially started by helping stray dogs and cats and find loving homes. However, since 2022, the focus of Bridge Pup Rescue has shifted, making their primary focus to help immigrants who arrive at the border with their pets.
“We basically offer assistance by taking care of the pets while the owners are in immigration custody,” said Montana. “Then we reunite them once the family is able to have those pets back and those reunions take place all over the country.”
Montana shared that she takes care of some pets herself.
While living her day-to-day life and still making the effort to help families and pets, she has a lot on her plate. To relieve that stress and make an impact, Montana received a partnership with animal services allowing coverage on all vaccinations needed for pets.
Heavily relying on volunteers, Montana is looking for more volunteers and foster homes. Volunteering can comprise of taking pets to their needed appointments, delivering food or supplies and of course looking after a furry friend.
“I rely on the kindness of people opening their homes to help me continue to do what I do,” said Montana. “I couldn’t do any of this without fosters.”
The next big goal for Bridge Pups Rescue is obtaining a federal policy to be put in place when immigrants arrive to the border with their pets. As of Nov. 2024, there is no set policy to ensure safety or care for those pets.
“It really is arbitrary,” said Montana. “It could be entirely up to whatever agent is at the border, whether that’s CBP; Border Patrol or Texas National Guard. If they happen to be kind and caring and have a moral compass, then they will do things the right way.”
Common instances are several agents dispersing dogs in Juarez, letting them loose, or even taking ownership of their own but not giving the quality care needed.
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is now working in collaboration with Montana to get federal funding and assistance for pets separated at the border.
Escobar noticed the severity of the issue after doing a tour of the border and witnessing a dog trapped in the concertina, or coil wire. The deadly wire was placed in effect after Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s order, Operation Lone Star. Due to this detrimental act, Escobar offered assistance for Montana and Bridge Pup Rescue.
“I’m rather relentless and I’m extremely stubborn, especially when it comes to causes that are related to any sort of oppression or injustice,” said Montana. “I was just really fortunate that the congresswoman offered.”
Bridge Pups Rescue is also in assistance with the Texas Civil Rights project and lawyers within that organization that are known as Beyond Borders.
Marco Hinojosa is the audience and engagement editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]
