This month, iHeartDogs embarked on the biggest Rescue Road Trip effort in our history, and 42 dogs are alive, safe, and loved today because of it. Across two massive transports bound for Colorado and Iowa, our rescue partners and supporters proved something powerful: distance, weather, and finances do not get to decide a dog’s fate.
Through two snowstorms and more than 50 hours on the road, iHeartDogs helped move 42 deserving dogs from uncertain circumstances into foster homes and forever families.
At the heart of it all was our incredible rescue partner, BARK (Bosque Animal Rescue Kennels) in Clifton, Texas, and the unwavering support of our iHeartDogs Hero VIP Club members, who made every mile possible.
Two Vans. Two States. One Promise.
This Rescue Road Trip wasn’t easy, or even guaranteed. When planning began, the vans weren’t fully funded. Fuel costs were high. Vetting, food, safe overnight stops, and medical clearances added up quickly. But this mission was built on a promise iHeartDogs made for 2026:
No dog will be left behind because of distance. No dog will be left behind because of money.
So when support came in from our VIPs, the vans rolled out. Two vehicles. Two destinations. And 42 lives on board, each one counting on humans to keep their word.
The Journey Starts in Texas
Before the wheels ever turned, the team at BARK Rescue worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Crates were loaded with care. Dogs were checked and rechecked. Stops were made again and again through the night to soothe anxious souls, provide comfort, and make sure every single dog was safe.
Because of iHeartDogs supporters, every dog was fully vetted, cleared for travel, and finally given what they’d been waiting for: a road forward.
Rescue Road Trip #1: Colorado Springs, CO
Receiving Organization: Karl’s Canine Krew
Dogs Transported: 11
On Friday, January 9, the first van hit the road towards Colorado Springs, ready to deliver 11 dogs, each with devoted foster families waiting. On board were:
Orion: Proof That Giving Up Is Never an Option
Orion’s life began in heartbreak. Found alone in a ditch with a broken leg when he was just weeks old, this deaf pittie puppy faced pain no dog should ever know. But Orion fought, proving his strong will to live. Now four months old, his leg has healed, his tail still wags, and his spirit radiates resilience.
When the van doors opened in Colorado, Orion was greeted by his foster mom, Molly, who was ready to try fostering for the very first time. Even more special? Molly previously adopted her own dog from Karl’s Canine Krew after he arrived in Colorado on a previous iHeartDogs Rescue Road Trip!
Orion’s arrival felt like a beautiful full-circle moment, serving as proof that rescue ripples outward in ways we can’t always predict.
Fern: Saved Just in Time
Fern came from a devastating hoarding situation involving more than 37 dogs living with an overwhelmed elderly woman. The conditions were heartbreaking, resources were stretched thin, and time was running out.
Fern’s rescue was captured on video, her quiet eyes telling the story of a dog who survived far too much and still chose trust. Thanks to this road trip, Fern now has space, safety, and a chance to finally just be a dog.
Rescue Road Trip #2: Iowa
Receiving Organization: Jackson County Humane Society
Dogs Transported: 31
One week later, on January 16, the second van left Texas, packed with 31 dogs, and headed north through winter weather toward Iowa. Each carried a story. Some of them carried unimaginable trauma.
Angel: The Smallest Souls Matter
Angel is a five-pound Chihuahua who was found alone on a rural county road, with no nearby homes and no one looking for her. Her tiny body carried a massive tumor, and her fear told a story of abandonment. Rescuers believe Angel was likely dumped because of her medical needs. Care costs money, and instead of finding a way to give Angel the care she needed, someone chose to walk away.
Yet despite everything, Angel remained gentle. BARK’s vet believes her mass is a mammary tumor that can be removed with surgery. Now safe in foster care, Angel is finally surrounded by people who said “yes” when she needed it most.
Jack & Jill: Together Against the Odds
Jack and Jill were just six months old when witnesses saw them thrown from a truck and left behind. Calls for help were made, but with no local animal control, nothing could be done.
For nearly eight weeks, these siblings survived on scraps, growing weaker by the day. When they finally reached rescue at eight months old, they were nearly 20 pounds underweight; skin and bones, exhausted, fragile. But they held on.
Now safe, fed, and cared for, Jack and Jill are healing together as a reminder of why rescue exists and why keeping families intact matters.
Bandit: A Year of Waiting, A Lifetime Ahead
Bandit was found in immediate danger on a county road BARK knows all too well, a place where dogs have been threatened and shot. They stepped in fast to save him, but a devastating diagnosis soon came: Bandit was heartworm positive.
Instead of giving up, BARK committed to Bandit’s healing. For over a year, he waited patiently through treatment, his gentle, calm, and endlessly kind demeanor never wavering. Bandit became a shelter favorite, known for comforting other dogs and lovingly watching over puppies. His friends at BARK call him “the daddy.”
This month, Bandit tested heartworm negative and finally got his chance to board a Rescue Road Trip van. He arrived in Iowa, eager to meet the family he’s waited so long for.
A Happy Ending Came Fast
Sometimes, rescue delivers miracles quicker than expected. Just one day after arriving in Iowa, a dog named John Lennon was adopted by a loving family with three small children. He will now have a home filled with laughter, playtime, and the future he always deserved.
42 Dogs. 42 New Beginnings.
Because of the iHeartDogs’ Hero VIP Club members, 42 dogs didn’t just survive a gruelling road trip; they reached safety, love, and real opportunity. They crossed state lines. They endured storms. They left behind fear, neglect, and endless waiting.
This was the biggest Rescue Road Trip iHeartDogs has ever taken on, and it certainly won’t be the last! Because when people come together, promises are kept. And when promises are kept, lives are saved.
Thank you for being the reason these dogs are home!
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