Freedom flight for dozens of animals from Bay Area shelters

LIVERMORE, Calif. (KTVU) - More than 40 shelter dogs and cats boarded a plane in Livermore on Saturday, bound for freedom on Valentine's Day.

The cats and dogs were rescued from animal shelters across the Bay Area.

The Wings of Rescue program took these animals to the Pacific Northwest and Canada, where they will receive a new lease of life.

Organizers say nearly 3 million animals are euthanized annually in city and county shelters nationwide.

But the Wings of Rescue program provides an alternative, which has saved more than 17,000 shelter animals from being euthanized this year.