HAWS celebrates milestone pet rescue flight welcoming number 10,000

 

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- About 85 cats and dogs arrived in Waukesha Tuesday morning, July 17 from Alabama and Louisiana. 

It's part of an ongoing partnership between the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha (HAWS) and Good Flights. Good Flights is a global rescue organization that helps save pets from over-crowded shelters. 

This flight was a special one as wheels and paws hit the runway in Waukesha, they celebrated rescuing 10,000 animals in just over two years. 

"I don't think any of us ever get tired of coming here to the airport to see this. Every time this plane lands we get this feeling of oh my gosh here this happens again," said Jennifer Smieja the communications Specialist for the Humane Animal Welfare Society. 

Volunteers cheered Tuesday as the flight landed. Of the 10,000 dogs rescued, 20 percent of them have been brought here to Wisconsin. 

"We've found homes for 2000 at risk pets that normally wouldn't have a good outcome in the southern shelters," said Smieja. "They've come up here we've made thousands of happy families and saved thousands of lives." 

For this special arrival, nearly 40 kids made signs and greeted the animals with excitement outside of the HAWS shelter. 

All of the animals that were brought to Wisconsin today were spread out at various shelters throughout Wisconsin, including the Washington County Humane Society and the Southern Wisconsin Humane Society. They will all be available for adoption by the end of the week.