The ASPCA's Nancy Silverman Rescue Ride, a new program launched in January, aims to relocate dogs from the Southeast to the Northeast—where they will have a better chance for adoption—over the next three years. On Thursday, April 23, 34 more lucky pups got a new “leash on life” through the program’s first transport to New York City.

The two-day transport began in Louisiana and Mississippi with dogs from the Louisiana SPCA in New Orleans and Natchez-Adams County Humane Society in Natchez, Miss., shelters that are new to the NSRR program but will be routine partners in the future. The custom-built animal relocation vehicle rolled into New York City around 12:30 pm last Thursday, where it was greeted by ASPCA President & CEO Matt Bershadker, Board Member Linda Lambert, Nancy Silverman, and a handful of very excited staffers at the ASPCA Adoption Center.

The dogs, a variety of breeds including Dachshunds, Labs, terriers, and hound and Catahoula mixes, range in age from 10 weeks to five years. Their road trip began in New Orleans on Tuesday, and they spent Wednesday night at the Augusta Regional SPCA in Staunton, Va. before continuing their journey to New York early Thursday morning.

“Transporting these dogs from areas of the southeast, where the risk of euthanasia can be high, to places where they’ll be adopted, is very rewarding,” said Kristen Limbert, Director of Animal Relocation at the ASPCA, who helped unload the dogs from the vehicle.  “It feels great to be part of a program that gives so many dogs a second chance. These are amazing animals that just need a change of venue to find an adopter who is going to love them forever.”

Six of the dogs will receive spay/neuter surgeries and be made available for adoption at the ASPCA Adoption Center, while the remaining rescues were transferred to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, an ASPCA partner in Madison, New Jersey.

“When I saw those puppies… my heart almost burst,” said Ms. Silverman.

Currently in its fourth month of operation, the Nancy Silverman Rescue Ride vehicle has already made 18 trips to source shelters and saved the lives of hundreds of dogs. This landmark occasion marks the first—but certainly not the last—transport to the ASPCA’s Adoption Center in Manhattan, and we are looking forward to many more lifesaving trips in the future.