A combined 60 at-risk shelter dogs and cats from overpopulated shelters in Louisiana were transported on a life-saving airlift to Wisconsin. The airlift was conducted by Greater Good Charities in partnership with Clear The Shelters, NBCUniversal Local’s annual pet adoption and donation campaign.

Partnership and Rescue Efforts

The 54 dogs and six cats came from eight strained shelters in Louisiana, including vulnerable or harder-to-place animals, such as homeless cats, large dogs, and heartworm-positive dogs. After being flown north, the pets were taken in by five shelters in Wisconsin that will offer them the necessary care and space, along with a stronger adoption demand.

“It’s difficult to get these animals adopted locally because it’s summertime, there is a lot of intake at these shelters,” said Jena Troxler, supervisor at St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter in Louisiana, ahead of the airlift. “Most of us are at 95 to 100 percent capacity.”

The receiving shelters in Wisconsin were Elmbrook Humane Society, Humane Animal Welfare Society, Humane Society of Jefferson County, Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, and Washington County Humane Society. They will provide the pets with medical care, if needed, before placing them for adoption.

Success Stories and Future Plans

One of the transported animals included Lavender, a 2-year-old Collie mix, and her nine husky Collie puppies. A rescue took Lavender from an overcrowded shelter before learning she was pregnant. She was then placed in a foster home, where she gave birth and nurtured her puppies. Now, Lavender and her pups are ready to join forever families.

Greater Good Charities, a longtime Clear The Shelters partner, conducts between two to five pet airlifts each month. The global nonprofit organization has transported more than 20,000 animals with assistance from partners across 30 different states.

Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.