El Paso Shelter Pets Take Flight Through Lifesaving Transportation Partnership

El Paso Animal Services is celebrating a another major lifesaving milestone in 2025: more than 370 shelter pets have been flown to start their new lives through our continued partnership with Dog Is My CoPilot, including 42 dogs scheduled for transport on Wednesday, November 19.

As one of the highest-intake regions in the country, El Paso faces ongoing challenges with overcrowding, especially during peak intake seasons. Partnering with transport organizations like Dog Is My CoPilot is a crucial part of our strategy to save more lives and create space for pets entering our shelter daily.

How Dog Is My CoPilot Helps Save Lives

Dog Is My CoPilot is a nonprofit organization that provides free, lifesaving transport flights for at-risk shelter pets across the country. Their volunteer pilots operate specially outfitted aircraft designed to safely carry large groups of animals at once, relocating them to communities where adoption demand is higher.

By removing financial barriers for shelters, these flights give pets a second chance at finding loving homes—especially those who may wait much longer to be adopted in our region.

Rescue Partners Helping El Paso Pets Find Homes

Through Dog Is My CoPilot, El Paso Animal Services collaborates with a mix of both new and longstanding rescue partners who welcome our pets into their adoption programs. In 2025, our receiving partners included:

• One Tail at a Time Portland
• Animal Adoption Center
• Wet Noses Foster Paws
• Pacific Northwest Cattle Dog Rescue
• Big Dog Rescue Project

Each of these organizations plays a vital role in opening kennels, homes, and hearts to pets who would otherwise continue waiting in our already-crowded shelter.

Why Transport Matters

Transporting adoptable pets to communities with more adopters allows us to:

• Reduce shelter overcrowding
• Give long-stay pets a better chance at finding homes
• Improve animal welfare by lowering stress and illness risks
• Free up space for incoming pets in need of urgent care

These flights are a powerful example of how collaboration and community support lead to more positive outcomes for animals.

How You Can Support Lifesaving Flights

If you’d like to help keep these lifesaving journeys possible, you can donate directly to Dog Is My CoPilot at DogCoPilot.org/donate. Every contribution supports flight operations, fuel, and the continued transport of shelter pets across the country.

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