Photo Credit: Oktibbeha County Humane Society

On November 2, at the request of Oktibbeha County Humane Society (OCHS) in Starkville, Mississippi, the ASPCA helped facilitate the transport of 46 dogs by plane to three Massachusetts-based partner shelters: Second Chance Animal Services, Animal Rescue League of Boston and MSPCA-Angell Northeast Animal Shelter.

With this transport, our Animal Relocation Program marked a significant achievement by transporting its 50,000th shelter animal via flight since 2015. This group of dogs, all unowned and housed at OCHS before their transfer, includes a mix of strays, owner surrenders and transfers from other local shelters.

Photo Credit: Oktibbeha County Humane Society

“Reaching a milestone of 50,000 shelter animals transported by flight through the ASPCA’s lifesaving animal relocation program represents the dedication of our incredible shelter partners who collaborate to give homeless animals in need second chances at finding loving homes,” said Karen Walsh, Senior Director of Animal Relocation for ASPCA Shelter Services. “Animal relocation – particularly by air – is an efficient and effective way to move large numbers of vulnerable homeless animals to shelters with the capacity to provide the care and support they need to survive, thrive and ultimately find new homes.”

The dogs, most of which are mixed breed and include puppies and adults, began their trip on November 2, when all 46 canines were loaded onto relocation vehicles and driven to George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville. The dogs then boarded their lifesaving flight to Massachusetts, where they landed safely at Worcester Regional Airport. The dogs are currently in the care of medical and behavioral staff at Second Chance Animal Services, Animal Rescue League of Boston and MSPCA-Angell Northeast Animal Shelter, where they will soon be made available for adoption.

Photo Credit: Oktibbeha County Humane Society

"Second Chance Animal Services is proud to be part of this milestone transport with the ASPCA, bringing these dogs one step closer to the loving homes they deserve," said Sheryl Blancato, CEO and Founder of Second Chance Animal Services. "Collaborations like this allow us to save more lives. We’re excited to welcome these dogs to Massachusetts, where they’ll receive the care and support they need to start a new chapter."

“The Animal Rescue League of Boston is a proud partner of the ASPCA and is honored to be a part of this amazing milestone,” stated ARL President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino. “The Animal Relocation Program creates vital relationships between organizations across the country so that we can work together to save lives, and ARL is thrilled to have the capacity and ability to help these animals start their next chapters.”

“This transport partnership with the ASPCA has allowed us to welcome hundreds of animals from overwhelmed shelters across the country to Massachusetts, where they were able to find loving homes,” said Mike Keiley, Vice President of the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division. “The animal welfare community is dealing with a crisis — too many dogs and not enough adopters — that can only be addressed by relationships like this in which organizations band together to get homeless animals the positive outcomes they deserve. We’re honored to be part of such a momentous milestone and look forward to working together with the ASPCA to rehome hundreds more animals in the years to come!”

Our Animal Relocation Program relocates more homeless animals than any other organization in the country by working with overcrowded shelters in under-resourced areas of the nation to relocate their animals to other shelters where those animals have greater chances of being adopted into loving homes. Our relocation efforts not only reduce overcrowding at partner shelters but also to help shelters create and strengthen programs that will have a long-term effect on animal welfare in the surrounding community. Animal relocation by air is an especially beneficial mode of transport as it allows us to safely expand our reach to partners in areas otherwise unreachable by ground transport. Flight transports also enable our relocation staff to connect with shelter partners who have animals in their care that are unsuitable candidates for long ground transports.

Since the launch of our Animal Relocation Program in 2014, we have safely transported over 274,000 animals on more than 10,000 trips. We collaborate with a network of over 140 partner source and destination shelters in 46 states nationwide, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Photo Credit: Oktibbeha County Humane Society