ABILENE, Texas — Humane Society of North Texas volunteers loaded kennels on a conveyor belt early Saturday, Nov. 28, to be flown to New Jersey and Delaware, where the animals inside could more easily find a forever home.
Thirteen of those dogs were from Abilene Animal Services. Through this partnership, 118 pets from the Abilene shelter have been transported and adopted.
“Generally speaking, about a third of the animals come from our facility, and then we help shelters all over North Texas and then Abilene, occasionally we’ll help the Killeen area. It just really depends on who needs it,” Humane Society of North Texas pet placement director Nelda Corbell said.
H.S.N.T. partners with Wings of Rescue, a nonprofit organization flying animals from overpopulated shelters to places where there is less overcrowding. Wings of Rescue has been operating since 2012, and has transported 50,000 animals this way. Corbell said most animals are adopted within 24-48 hours of hitting the landing strip.
“The majority of them are dogs. We do send some cats too. They are going to New Jersey, Delaware, Wisconsin and Florida,” she said.
H.S.N.T. has sent more than 2,000 animals by plane just this year. They make two trips on average each month and aren’t done. Wings of Rescue is making another trip from Fort Worth Dec. 28.
Corbell said the partnership with Wings of Rescue has been transformative for H.S.N.T. and has meant being able to help other shelters and members of the community.
“I honestly think it’s just kind of the way of the future and for us personally it’s really changed out shelter population and the lives we’re able to save,” she said. “It’s just been incredible, to be quite honest. It is involves so many of our volunteers and staff. Just from being able to bring everybody together and being able to help other shelters, it’s truly making a big impact.”
Abilene Animals Services Director Mike Bricker said the animal shelter is regularly overpopulated because it is an open intake shelter and any time staff can empty kennels is the opportunity to help another potential family pet.
“Any space is great for us. Anytime that Humane Society of North Texas takes animals from us is a blessing. It helps every single time,” Bricker said.
Abilene Animal Services staff are looking forward to winter because it is a slower season for the facility, in part because of mating patterns. Bricker said there are other ways to keep the shelter from overpopulating, to spay and neuter pets and consider adopting before purchasing an animal.
“I think it’s just not about keeping animals out of our shelters, but more people thinking about adoptions before they go and purchase an animal. That would help keep animals out and give people new healthy family members from the shelter,” he said.
For more information on adoption and services provided by Abilene Animal Services, go to abilenetx.gov/animalservices. To learn more about Wings of Rescue or programming provided by Humane Society of North Texas, visit hsnt.org or wingsofrescue.org.