Rescue Flies At-Risk Heartworm-Positive Dogs From Overcrowded Shelters to New Homes

Finding a forever home as a shelter dog is tough because many other dogs are vying for the same homes. However, it can be much tougher when there are health concerns, such as a heartworm diagnosis, as potential adopters may be concerned about dealing with health or behavioral issues.

The Save a Heart initiative aims to increase adoptions in crowded shelters by treating and preventing heartworm. The initiative would help fly more than 50 at-risk shelter dogs from overflowing southern shelters to New Jersey and to new homes. The transportation is part of Greater Good Charities' Good Flights Program and is funded by The Animal Rescue Site and donations from the public.

Nene and Bear are among the dogs benefiting from the program. Iberville Parish Animal Shelter took them in after a car ran over their mother, leaving them needing to be bottle-fed. Unfortunately, their parents weren't ready to care for them, so they surrendered the puppies to the shelter, which got them a foster home.

While Nene and Bear's fosters have done a great job in caring for them, the dogs are ready to move into a forever home, and this Save a Heart initiative would help them achieve that. 

The Good Flights program by Greater Good Charities has transported over 6,300 at-risk shelter pets, including more than 660 asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs, through the Save a Heart initiative.

Credit: Greater Good Charities