Rescue Relay proves love knows no boundaries

Through no fault of their own, millions of unfortunate dogs land in overcrowded animal shelters every year. These healthy, kind and loving animals simply need a second chance.

While many people want to give these pets a home, shelter funding is limited and delivering the animals to distant places can be too expensive.

But thanks to charities and a network of dog rescuers, time and fuel costs are being absorbed and new leases on life are being granted to the animals.

Sugar is a sweet and beautiful pit bull, and Kindra is a Los Angeles-based mother and volunteer with Bark Avenue Foundation.

When the Foundation pulled Sugar from the shelter, she was pregnant. All of her puppies were eventually adopted, and now it’s finally mom’s turn. A family in Arizona who adopted one of Sugar’s puppies decided they wanted to take in the mother, too.

Watch the video and see Kindra and her daughter deliver Sugar from LA to her new home in Tucson, visiting some amazing places along the way.

Stopovers on the Journey through Southern California and Arizona

Kindra and family have saved many animals by transporting them to new homes. During their cross-country travels, they always make time for kid-friendly attractions and family activities.

On their way to deliver Sugar, they visited the Bombay Beach Ruins of Salton Sea in Southern California's Sonoran Desert. The Salton Sea is a shallow, saltwater lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault. Because of its location and geological factors, the salt levels of the lake keep rising.

Bombay Beach was a vibrant resort area in the 1950s, but now it’s a town of only a few hundred people. Photographers from all over the world travel here, and it has been a shooting location for many films. Salton Sea’s odd, otherworldly beauty starkly reminds visitors of America’s vastness.

After bringing Sugar safely to her new home, Kindra and her daughter made time to explore Arizona’s Saguaro National Park on the outskirts of Tucson.

The park is named after its most notable inhabitant: the giant saguaro cactus – towering 40 feet tall and living 150 years. They rise from the burnt orange dirt, scattered as if someone placed them randomly.

The Sonoran Desert also is a great place to spot desert wildlife — jack rabbits, roadrunners, horned lizards — roaming freely on hiking trails. And the view of the sun setting on this magical place is not to be missed.

Other fun trip stopovers include Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Joshua Tree National Park, Rio Salado Audubon Center, Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center and the Tucson Tamale Company.

Genuine Concern

Cities like LA have serious dog overpopulation problems, making rescue groups like Bark Avenue Foundation a welcome necessity. Through the organization, a large, diverse community of volunteers provides time and resources to help — primarily to stop healthy animals from being euthanized. Without people like Kindra to transport the animals, dogs like Sugar might not find homes.

But Sugar isn’t the only one who benefits from this physical and emotional journey; Kindra finds meaning as well.

A few years ago, she was struggling in her personal and professional life. Then, she decided to volunteer with Bark Avenue Foundation. Now, she’s found new purpose. Like Sugar, she too has been able to heal from a traumatic event.

Your Turn

If you want to donate time or money to save more dogs like Sugar, visit the Bark Avenue Foundation website, or contact pet transportion services in your area. Check your local shelter or PetFinder.com to find more loving dogs waiting for homes.