Mid City Times

On Valentine's Day, Fort Worth Animal Care & Control (FWACC) celebrated as 14 animals embarked on a journey to their new homes. The group, consisting of eleven dogs and three cats, departed from Meacham International Airport through a collaboration with Wings of Rescue, a volunteer organization dedicated to transporting at-risk pets.

Melanie Pena, the outbound supervisor at FWACC, expressed her feelings about the event: "I feel pure happiness for the animals on this flight." For many of these animals, the flight signifies a fresh start as they head to locations where adopters are ready to welcome them.

Pena highlighted the importance of fostering in the adoption process: “We’re hoping to get new fosters and want to help them understand just how much fostering truly helps save lives.” Each animal had spent at least two weeks in a foster home before being eligible for this journey. Fostering provides an essential temporary step that contributes significantly to saving lives.

While this particular group took flight on Valentine's Day, numerous other animals have already been transported via buses earlier this year. "They’re going to their forever homes, and their lives are going to change forever," Pena remarked.

For Katie Tyrrell, a devoted foster parent for FWACC, the day was filled with mixed emotions. She shared her experience: “It’s always hard to say goodbye,” she said tearfully as she watched the animals board the plane. Over two years, Tyrrell has fostered more than 60 dogs. "It’s amazing to know they’re never going to come back to the shelter and never going to end up on the streets as strays. It’s such a relief — it fills your heart," she added.

Tyrrell's decision to begin fostering stemmed from witnessing the need for animal homes in Fort Worth. She finds fulfillment in being part of each animal's story from foster care to finding permanent families.

FWACC encourages others to consider fostering. Pena stated: “We want people to ask us as many questions as they want to feel more comfortable with the fostering process. We want to be there for our foster families.”

The initiative underscores community involvement and compassion in giving animals a second chance at life.

Volunteers bid farewell as dogs and cats boarded an airplane headed northeast where adopters awaited them.