P.E.T.S. Underdog Express in Wichita Falls has moved over 4,700 dogs since 2016 and continues sending at-risk dogs to Upstate New York, most recently transporting 30 dogs away from overcrowded shelters. This effort is part of a broader trend across the U.S., where dog rescue organizations are working to improve pet retention.

The flights are literal only in spirit: the dogs travel in a specially equipped, air conditioned and heated trailer that carries animals from North Texas and neighboring Oklahoma to regions with higher adoption demand. Organizers say the program reduces euthanasia caused by shelter overcrowding and connects local dogs with new homes and rescue partners up north. Nationwide, adoption efforts have had a significant impact, with many shelter pets finding new homes each year.

Jan Herzog, coordinator for P.E.T.S. Underdog Express, credited the program’s stability to clinic backing and grant support. “The resources and backing of the P.E.T.S family has been able to get us a couple of grants and get bare bones pricing on meds and vet care,” she said. Individuals looking to support such initiatives can also consider volunteering or donating supplies, which can significantly bolster local rescue organizations.

Dogs moved through the program originate from towns across the region, including Electra, Iowa Park and Burkburnett in Texas, and Waurika, Frederick and Lawton in Oklahoma. The transports link local shelters with partner organizations such as Helping Hounds Dog Rescue and other receiving agencies, while the P.E.T.S. Clinic provides resources and logistical support. This cooperation is crucial, as about 10% of shelter animals across the country face euthanasia each year, making programs like this essential for increasing adoptions.

Leslie Singleton, a board member of the Young County Humane Society, described the effect on local capacity. “It’s wonderful for us that we have these outlets to allow us to free up space so that we can take care of more dogs,” she said. This reflects the importance of such transport initiatives in preventing overcrowding and enhancing adoption rates.

Foster caregivers play a visible role in the chain that moves animals from shelter kennels to the trailer and, ultimately, to adopters. Foster dog parent Robert Tucker framed the work in practical, human terms: “We’re giving them an opportunity for a new life, a new home and to people that want them.” Fostering is more crucial than ever in supporting these efforts.

The program’s organizational roots include Humane Tomorrow, which originally operated the Underdog Express program, and the P.E.T.S. Clinic, which maintains the current program page and outlines how high-volume, long-distance transport is coordinated. The clinic’s materials also describe the logistics and veterinary support that accompany each transport.

Volunteers and staff coordinate pickups from multiple small shelters and municipal facilities, consolidating dogs for the trip east. The trailer’s climate controls and staging areas are intended to protect animals during the long drive to Upstate New York, where partner rescues take over adoption and placement work.

Herzog urged broader awareness and support for the effort. “We would really like more people to know what we do, because if we had more money and more fosters, we could save more dogs,” she said. As rescue organizations continue facing challenges, fostering and financial contributions from the community remain vital.

The program’s scale — over 4,700 dogs moved since 2016 and recent transports of groups such as the 30 dogs headed to Upstate New York — reflects years of steady transfers between Texas, Oklahoma and northern rescue partners. Organizers say that combination of clinic support, rescues such as Helping Hounds Dog Rescue, and local shelter cooperation has kept the route running. Efforts to prevent euthanasia driven by overcrowded facilities and to place dogs into homes where demand for adoption is higher are sure to continue thriving with the ongoing commitment of volunteers and community support.

Reporting on Dec. 25, 2025, noted the continued operation and its reliance on partner organizations and local volunteers. The initiative’s advocates say it remains focused on preventing euthanasia driven by overcrowded facilities and on placing dogs into homes where demand for adoption is higher.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.