'9 Lives Drive:' uShip's Help on Wheels Offering Free Transport of Louisiana's Oil Spill Animal Victims 1,100 Miles to PETA Headquarters

Despite the capped oil spill, animal shelters continue to overflow in coastal Louisiana as families can’t afford to support their pets. PETA is stepping in to rescue some these pets -- and uShip's Help on Wheels vehicle is transporting 20 'special needs' cats from Denham Springs, La., to PETA's headquarters in Norfolk, Va. Help on Wheels is providing the service free of charge as part of its ongoing charitable delivery efforts.

Denham Springs, LA (Vocus) August 9, 2010

Help on Wheels, the charitable delivery vehicle of online transport marketplace uShip, is teaming up with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to transport some very special cats – all animal victims of the BP oil spill out of the Gulf Coast – to a riverside community in Virginia where they will have a better chance of finding permanent homes.

On Tuesday, August 10 (10 am), at no charge, the 40-foot Help on Wheels vehicle is transporting 20 long-term “special needs” cat waifs and strays from the Denham Springs Animal Shelter, near Baton Rouge, La., to PETA's headquarters in Norfolk, Va. The “9 Lives Drive” crew is expected in Virginia early Wednesday morning after the 1,100-mile, 18-hour cat herding. Without the move, the cats would have languished in cages for life.

Animal shelters in coastal Louisiana have been overwhelmed and even more overcrowded as a direct result of the massive BP oil spill. Families experiencing significant loss of income or moving out of town completely are turning in their dogs, cats and other animals to local shelters and pounds or abandoning them in neighborhoods.

“When we think of the catastrophe in the Gulf, we think of turtles and pelicans, not cats, but when families lose their incomes, they can resort to abandoning their animals,” said Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA. “We’re thankful that uShip has generously donated its transport services to give these cats a fighting chance to find care and new homes.”

“While the oil spill has stopped gushing, families, pets and wildlife will continue to feel the effects for years to come so we’re thankful for the opportunity to help in some small way,” said Matt Chasen, CEO and founder of uShip. “We can now add cats to Help on Wheels’ list of diverse charitable delivery cargo, which has also included reality show props, farm equipment, prom dresses, back-to-school supplies and more.”

About uShip
uShip helps relieve the stress and high cost of moving hard-to-ship items, such as cars, furniture, pianos, boats, freight/haulage, heavy equipment, and more. As the first and largest online transport marketplace, uShip connects people and businesses with feedback-rated transporters. Carriers place competitive bids to win business, often filling extra space in their trucks and saving customers an average of 50 percent. The uShip marketplace has attracted $150 million in business transactions, one million listings and 170,000 service providers. Launched in 2004, uShip operates globally with localized functionality in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, European Union and Australia. For more information please visit http://www.uShip.com.

About PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with more than 2 million members and supporters, is the largest animal rights organization in the world. PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.

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