Local woman recognized as ‘Heartland Hero’
Karen Lasasso has rescued 25,000 dogs from shelters in Georgia
“Steadfast” is the word to describe Karen Lasasso’s mission to rescue dogs. She and her caravan have taken more than 100 trips to kill-shelters in Georgia, saving 25,000 dogs to date.
Lasasso’s dedication to rescuing dogs has earned her the title of Heartland Hero, an honor bestowed to unique individuals who live in Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. NJHeartland.org states the honor is bestowed upon people who make the heartland region “a great place to live, work, play and raise a family.”
Lasasso, a Williamstown native, cited her motivation to rescue dogs came in 2008 when she was the PTA president at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Hammonton. During Catholic Schools Week the principal asked her to pick a theme for the week, a community service project focused on giving back.
“I started to network with different groups in this country that have horrific and staggering amounts of unwanted, abandoned, thrown-away, neglected animals,” she said. “This country uses gas chambers as a method of euthanasia, I was so appalled. We tend to live in a bubble and don’t know what goes on outside our bubble.”
She added the groups are predominantly in Georgia. The principal liked her idea and ran with it. Over the course of three months they rescued 120 puppies and dogs; Lasasso said some are still alive to this day.
Like a lot of things in life once the initial excitement of the movement was over, people went back to their normal, everyday routines — everybody except Lasasso and one other mom who wanted to do even more.
The two started a rescue mission called “Making Of Miracle Stories,” abbreviated to MOMS, Animal Rescue. In the summer of 2009, they had a goal to take students to Georgia to show them where their dogs came from. The caravan, which included a State Police escort from Lindenwold to the Delaware state line, arrived in Georgia and completely emptied a shelter. Lasasso said the 350 animals rescued that day is good for the largest rescue operation in Georgia history. It was such a monumental day the mayor of Atlanta, along with other local politicians, flew north to issue a proclamation to MOMS. They declared Aug. 21, 2009, “Empty out a Georgia Shelter Day.”
From there, Lasasso founded a new organization called Animal Aid USA alongside Prince Lorenzo Borghese, Jodie Richers and Georgina Bloomberg.
In January of 2011, Lasasso and her husband took their first trip together to a rural shelter on the east coast of Georgia.
“On the way back he said it wasn’t bad, we can do it every once in a while,” she said. “What I heard was ‘We can go every 28 days.’”
The Nov. 18 was their 100th, it marked the 25,000th dog rescued.
“We’re not adopting the animals out, I have teams of receiving rescues in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Florida all privately owned and funded,” she said. “They select from our death row lists to adopt out to communities.”
On any given month, Lasasso will have 30 volunteers who caravan with her.
“There’s no salaries, we don’t make money off this,” Lasasso said. “I’ve been asked to duplicate this across the country. I gave up my career for this.”
Just because she focuses on rescuing dogs from Georgia shelters does not mean she neglects shelters in her home state. In fact, they’re partnered with the Chow Hound House, a nonprofit run by Brimm Medical Arts High school.
Her continued dedication to making the world a better place earned her the title of Heartland Hero, a title that she is humbled by.
“It really took me by surprise. I’m rarely speechless and I was speechless. I was humbled.” she said.
Lasasso was nominated by one of her supporters who oversees the Girls Scout troops that volunteer with Animal Aid USA.
It makes me want to do more,” she added. “I don’t feel as if I’m owed this appreciation but I’m humbled by it. I was very appreciative.”
At the end of the day, Lasasso isn’t doing this for the accolades, she does it because it’s in her DNA.
“I strive in absolutely paying it forward and giving back,” she said. “My whole life is based on giving it back. It’s about teaching the next generation.”
For those looking to get involved, please email Lasasso at TalbotK@animalaidusa.org or visit animalaidusa.org.
