At the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth, Nelda Corbell helped prep the furry travelers, including a kitten headed for a mega adoption event in Pennsylvania. \u201cI mean\u2026 Who wouldn\u2019t want to do this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Shelters in northern states often have more space and fewer pets thanks to different laws and a shorter breeding season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have stricter spay and neuter laws,\u201d Corbell said. \u201cAnd they also have four seasons. In the South, animals tend to have babies year-round.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Getting the animals ready to fly is no small task. Each one undergoes medical and behavioral screening before boarding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey do vet checks. They do behavior exams. So there’s a lot that goes into it,\u201d said Corbell. \u201cAnd then they have to find receiving partners who have space and homes waiting for these adorable babies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wings of Rescue co-president Ric Browde described the process as a strange kind of animal logistics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was like trying to figure out how many dogs it could fit on a plane,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd do logistics for dogs. But that\u2019s what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n
From Fort Worth to Houston to Maryland, then White Plains, New York, and eventually, New Hampshire, 166 animals made stops along the way to meet their new families or foster groups.<\/p>\n
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NBC 5\u2019s Brian Curtis joined the journey and described the organized chaos on the tarmac.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo as you can see here, it\u2019s a little bit like organized chaos, but trust me, there is a really detailed plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the final group of pets headed north, Browde addressed the volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to thank each and every one of you for getting up this early. We couldn\u2019t do it without you. You guys are the heroes of this flight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once the flight was complete, videos from new pet parents began to roll in\u2014 dogs and cats waving goodbye to the cameras as they started life in loving homes.<\/p>\n
This mission is part of Wings of Rescue\u2019s ongoing effort to ease the strain on Texas shelters during the busy summer months. Since its founding in 2012, the group has saved more than 78,000 animals.<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s a perfect time for a reminder: NBC 5\u2019s Clear the Shelters<\/strong> campaign is coming up soon, with more details to be announced. Until then, 166 tails are wagging a little brighter thanks to a flight that changed everything.<\/p>\n