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Safe Journeys. Second Chances.
Big Heart Animal Transport coordinates and provides safe relocation for animals at risk due to overcrowding in rural shelters — helping move them to approved fosters, rescue partners, and safe placement networks.
What we do
Our transport efforts focus on animals facing euthanasia due to overcrowding or limited resources in rural areas.
We assist by:
• Transporting at-risk dogs and cats to approved foster homes
• Coordinating multi-stop rescue routes
• Participating in regional transfer meet-ups with foster networks and transport teams
• Supporting cross-county and cross-region rescue efforts
We have transported dogs, cats — and even specialty cases such as birds — when safe placement is available.
Every transport is handled with care, planning, and a commitment to animal welfare.
Regional Rescue Coordination
Several times each year, we participate in large coordinated transfer meet-ups — including exchanges in areas such as Staunton, Virginia — where transport teams, rescue organizations, and foster families collaborate to safely move animals into foster care and rescue programs.
These coordinated efforts allow:
• Multiple animals to move to safety in one organized route
• Foster homes to receive animals quickly
• Shelters to reduce overcrowding
• Rescue partners to expand intake capacity
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Transport is often the difference between euthanasia and a second chance.
Mom and 4 puppies saved after being relocated from Wytheville, VA to Newport News, VA
The difference love makes.
Why it matters
In many rural shelters, space and resources are limited. When intake numbers exceed capacity, animals can face euthanasia simply due to lack of space.
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Reliable transport creates opportunity.
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By bridging the gap between overcrowded shelters and foster networks, we help increase live outcomes and expand rescue reach across communities.
Current operations
Transport services are currently provided on a coordinated, case-by-case basis depending on:
• Foster availability
• Rescue partnerships
• Route scheduling
• Volunteer capacity
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As our program grows, we aim to increase transport frequency and expand collaborative rescue networks.
