Pinckneyville animal transport driver dies in Springfield hospital

The devoted Pinckneyville man who connected abandoned pets with new forever homes passed away Friday, the result of a serious accident April 14 on the return leg of one such trip.

Dane "Dawg" Caupert, 68, carried animals from southern Illinois to no-kill shelters and adoptive families every Tuesday for 10 years.

He was known at shelters all over southern Illinois, but nowhere was he as special as to the folks at the Perry County Humane Society in Pinckneyville.

"He meant something different to everybody," said Perry County Humane Society volunteer Tammie Hoffard.

"He was always willing to train the new people."

Hoffard said Caupert had a gift with animals, and was able to calm them even though they didn't know him at all.

"They'd be terrified because they just left a van or were getting on a new van," Hoffard said, "but he had a special touch about him; they just knew they were safe."

"I don't know how we're going to replace him."

On April 14 Caupert was on the return leg of his trip in the animal transport van, when he was involved in a serious accident near Springfield that destroyed the van and left Caupert unconscious in a Springfield hospital. He never left the hospital.

Caupert would transport anywhere from 70 to 110 animals on one trip - mostly dogs and cats but also the occasional snake and rabbit, Hoffard said.

She said because of Caupert and other volunteers, so many animals get a chance at life up north that they couldn't have here, because there aren't enough adopters.

"It's a lot of work, but it's amazing," she said.

"I like to say there were 175,000 lifesaving miles on that van," Hoffard added. "It was only five years old and it was in wonderful shape."

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe account to replace the van raised the needed money in just 10 days and the new van is expected to be delivered next week, Hoffard said.

Donations are still being taken at https://www.gofundme.com/f/animal-life-saving-transport-van-replacement?fbclid=IwAR0-yx9clBqiUY0ktozUo8os7vcboMft3gf6NlejWLHIzYdrttwYZJwO-Ng, but donations now will be used to support the shelter.

A second account has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

You can contribute here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dane-caupert-pchs-transporter?utm_source=facebook & utm_medium=social & utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet & fbclid=IwAR3JoxQVxn2fTAofuYrHPrr9uasqe37NDcqTcyvX1sgPEHdAbDoWV0FH5U8.

Perry County Humane Society handled the maintenance of the van but it transported animals from facilities in 20 different Illinois counties and cities, including Pinckneyville, Marion, Herrin and Chester; and Perry, Williamson, Saline, Randolph, Jefferson and Washington counties.

Caupert was a Vietnam veteran, and drummer and visual artist.

A memorial service will be held at a later date with interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis. For information, contact the Pyatt Funeral Home in Pinckneyville.