Shelters across the US are in crisis mode as they reach critical levels of pet overpopulation with almost a million more pets crowding animal facilities as compared to 3 years ago — this is particularly bleak for heartworm-positive dogs. Without Greater Good Charities’ Good Flights program and Save a Heart initiative, shelters often lack the resources to treat heartworm. With dog adoption rates stagnate, heartworm-positive dogs are more unlikely to find a family to love them.
“Probably about 75% of the dogs that enter our front doors are heartworm-positive, unfortunately. Our shelter has been overflowing, our staff is exhausted, and these flights allow these animals that so deserve a home to be able to go up north and be in their new homes within 3 to 5 days.”
- Reagan Daniel, Cara’s House, President
Save a Heart Good Flight
In Honor of Heartworm Awareness Month and to kick off our fourth year of transporting pets to freedom, we conducted a Save a Heart Good Flight on April 8th. Over 45 shelter pets were flown from overcrowded shelters in Louisiana to the East Coast.
Meet Clover
One lucky pup was Clover. She was surrendered with her tiny pups when her owner could no longer take care of them. Her puppies were barely old enough to eat on their own when they were surrendered. Unfortunately, Clover tested positive for heartworm and the shelter she was at didn’t have the resources to treat her, leaving her with a low chance of adoption.
Thankfully, Clover was able to begin heartworm treatment through the Save a Heart initiative and was on the Good Flight where she will be put up for adoption in a matter of days.
Good Flights Save Lives
Greater Good Charities continues working to support and provide aid to shelters across the country to address the pet overpopulation crises through our Good Flights and Save a Heart programs. The Save a Heart initiative has helped more than 3,400 at-risk dogs, including nearly 1,215 with heartworm disease, escape crowded shelters, and find the care they need to thrive.
Good Flights is a program of Greater Good Charities that conducts life-saving airlifts and ground transport for at-risk pet populations with a heavy focus on asymptomatic heartworm-positive shelter dogs as well as disaster relief, homeless cats, and harder-to-place large dogs. This year, Good Flights will save thousands of at-risk shelter pets, including hundreds of asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs. To date, more than 12,000 shelter pets have been transported. Donate now to help continue this life-saving work.
