These Animal Rescue Volunteers Go the Extra Mile (or 2,500)

Starting this past weekend, a group of intrepid volunteers began an animal rescue process that involved 2,500 mile journeys, airplanes and more than 400 pets.

In this massive effort, more than 400 dogs and cats are being transported across the country. They’re being rescued from shelters where they may be destroyed, then brought to places where they have the best chance of finding new families.

From October 1-3, American Humane Association’s Red Star Rescue team and a 50-foot-long Lois Pope Red Star Rescue Truck joined hundreds of Pilots N Paws pilots from across the country to help transport these pets to safe shelters, fosters and rescue groups.

It’s truly a massive, nationwide effort.

This is the second time this year that American Humane Association has joined Pilots N Paws in a transcontinental transport of hundreds of animals, the groups said in a statement:

“In May, more than 200 animals were carried to safety from shelters in Alabama and Virginia. Those transports are the subject of a film that will be broadcast nationwide during the 2015 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, airing on Hallmark Channel October 30 at 8 pm Eastern Time/7 pm Central.”

All of this is necessary due to the geographic distribution of shelter animals, and loving homes. You see, there are places in the country that are overwhelmed with abandoned animals, and others where there are relatively more humans looking to adopt a shelter pet. Matching the pets to new owners can involve some awesome logistics.

So, if you can pitch in in some way, think about helping out the American Humane Association, Pilots N Paws and The Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, Inc. It’s a worthy cause.