Pilots N Paws Pacific Coast Rescue Event

More than 70 homeless dogs get the ride of their lives.

Posted: April 28, 2013, 8 p.m. EDT

Petmate, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Subaru, team up with Pilots N Paws to transport more than 170 dogs from shelters in Southern California to shelters in Oregon and Washington. The dogs are taking flight to areas where they are more likely to be adopted.

On the morning of Saturday, April 27, approximately 73 animals were taken to Long Beach from Animal Services’ West Valley Shelter and Best Friends Pet Adoption and Spay Neuter Center – where they’ve been housed and prepared for transport.

The animals were loaded onto 22 planes flown by Pilots N Paws volunteer pilots as they begin their voyage north. After coordinated layovers in Fresno and Redding, CA, the dogs were transported to Kitsap Humane Society and Seattle Humane Society in Silverdale and Bellevue, WA, respectively, where they arrived and settled in Sunday morning.

On April 30, a ground transport carrying an additional 100 dogs will leave Riverside County Department of Animal Services. This transport, funded by the ASPCA and provided by California organization Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team, will deliver dogs to various organizations and rescue groups in Washington and Oregon.

The ASPCA’s coordinated national relocation program draws on the proven economic theory of supply and demand to transport sheltered dogs from localities where supply exceeds demand to areas where demand matches the supply of adoptable dogs.

Our very own DOG FANCY editor, Ernie Slone got a front row seat as the dogs were preped and boarded for their journey at Long Beach Airport.

Ken and Lori, prepare for takeoff during today’s Pacific Coast Flyway, sponsored by Subaru and Petmate, and organized by the ASPCA. Several stops and relays will take place along the way before the animals make it to their final destination.