Animal shelters across the U.S. face persistent challenges that limit their ability to place adoptable pets into homes, from overcrowding to staffing and veterinarian shortages. For shelters in remote or isolated places like Hawaii, these challenges are compounded by location, limited transport options, and seasonal fluctuations in local adoptions.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, animal shelters in Hawaii experienced an immediate and severe disruption in operations. Commercial flights were suspended, and the regular flow of pet transports to the U.S. mainland stopped almost entirely. Shelters quickly became overwhelmed as lockdowns slowed local adoptions and intake numbers rose.
In response, Greater Good Charities led an unprecedented effort: Paws Across the Pacific. This single-day operation relocated nearly 600 dogs and cats from six Hawaiian Islands to receiving shelters across the Pacific Northwest, making it the largest single pet transport in history.
The Largest Pet Rescue Flight in History
The mission began well before takeoff, as each pet was screened for health issues and provided with any necessary care. Veterinary sponsors included Boehringer Ingelheim, Banfield Foundation, and the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association helped provide health certificates, prophylactic surgeries, and vaccines to animals before the flight. In addition to pre-flight checks, we flew veterinarians with the pets to ensure everyone was healthy and any issues could be addressed if they arose.
In addition, loading this many animals on such a large flight across six islands was a logistical feat. Greater Good Charities had to know the size and weight of every animal to thoughtfully design a load plan that was safe and effective, and then coordinate with shelters, veterinarians, staff, and volunteers across six Hawaiian Islands as well as shelters on the mainland. After the plane was to land in Seattle, some pets would be going onward on another flight to their final destination.
Then, on October 28, 2020, the real journey began as our Hercules C-130 aircraft took off from Kauai with hundreds of pets on board. Making stops on O’ahu and Maui, our expert crew picked up pets from shelters on five of the islands and finally headed across the Pacific for Seattle.
After a long journey, nearly 600 shelter pets were welcomed by our network of trusted partners from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. As the animals settled in at the shelters, it wasn’t long before these partners began to report their adoptions, as with Moki and Phyllis.
A New Home for Sisters Moki and Phyllis
Moki and Phyllis came to the Kaua’i Humane Society as senior dogs after their owner passed away. With the pandemic limiting travel and adoptions, the pair spent nearly six months at the shelter.
For two senior dogs who had lost their owner, the trip to the U.S. mainland meant a new beginning. Upon arrival at their new shelter, Moki and Phyllis were welcomed into a foster home and soon after, adopted by that very family. Instead of spending their golden years in a crowded shelter, Moki and Phyllis found comfort, companionship, and love in a permanent home, made possible by the PawsXPacific mission.
Partnership in Action
Paws Across the Pacific was about more than transporting pets safely during a time of crisis—it served as a model for working with local emergency management and veterinary leadership, along with a broader network of shelters, to ensure the highest standards of animal care and transport safety. A coalition of 24 organizations contributed to the mission’s success, including the direct partnership of Wings of Rescue and The Animal Rescue Site, and the sponsorship of The John R. Peterson Foundation.
Expert partners contributed to the historic flight at every stage:
- Veterinary sponsors ensured pre- and post-flight health checks.
- Nutrition partners like Royal Canin provided food immediately on arrival.
- Animal behavior experts advised on minimizing transport-related stress.
- Air transport providers ensured pets traveled safely across the long distances.
Transporting Pets to Safety: Why Rescue Flights Matter
Building on the success of the PawsXPacific mission, Greater Good Charities launched our transport program in April 2021 to conduct life-saving airlifts and support ground transport for at-risk and vulnerable pet populations, with a focus on asymptomatic heartworm-positive shelter dogs, disaster relief, homeless cats, and harder-to-place large dogs.
With climate disasters like hurricanes and wildfires on the rise, we also play a vital role for animal shelters in times of emergency. We help move homeless pets out of disaster-affected areas and assist shelters in providing critical care to both pets and families in need, delivering resources like food, medicine, and equipment.
The relocation of pets through transport is an expression of commitment to equity in animal welfare. Rescue flights help ensure that pets in under-resourced communities are not left behind. They reduce euthanasia, increase adoption opportunities, and give shelters breathing room to better serve their local communities. Greater Good Charities is focused on delivering sustainable solutions for animals and the people who care for them.