15 May Service Trip 2026 – Day 1: Transport, Kensett & Redfield
After a long travel day on Thursday, our volunteers were up bright and early Friday morning to meet our pups at transport. A huge thank you to Jason and the Hearts Transport team for taking such incredible care of our dogs as they boarded the bus for their 48-hour journey to Massachusetts.
This is a part of the rescue process we don’t often get to experience from the northern side, and it gave us an even deeper appreciation for the southern fosters who love these dogs so fiercely, care for them so well, and place their trust in us as they say goodbye and load them onto the bus. It’s an emotional but hopeful moment.
The dogs will arrive in Massachusetts late Saturday night to quarantine and then meet their northern foster homes, where the next part of their journey toward forever families begins.
After waving goodbye to our pups, the group split up to head out to the shelters. The first group headed out to the Kensett Animal Shelter, a small outdoor shelter an hour north of Little Rock. There, the team got to work on one of the largest projects, digging a trench through the rocky ground around the kennels. This improvement helps with drainage, reduces mud, and creates cleaner outdoor spaces for the dogs and volunteers.
Inside, teams assembled shelving units and reorganized storage areas, making supplies easier to access and daily operations more efficient. Volunteers also spent hours deep-cleaning kennels and bathing dogs. These projects immediately improved the day-to-day quality of life for the animals. For many of the dogs, a clean
kennel and a fresh bath provided comfort, care, and attention they may not have experienced in a very long time.
In addition, the medical team operated a dedicated medical tent focused on heartworm testing and medical evaluations. Heartworm disease remains extremely common in Arkansas due to the warm climate and large mosquito population, putting countless dogs at risk every year. Many dogs can carry heartworm without showing obvious symptoms, which is why early detection is so important.
At the Redfield Shelter, volunteers rolled up their sleeves for some similar projects. Teams spread fresh gravel throughout the shelter grounds to help improve drainage and create a cleaner, safer environment for both dogs and staff. Volunteers also assembled a brand-new XXL dog house, giving pregnant mamas a safe place to give birth and nurse their puppies. Existing dog houses were weatherproofed to better protect pups from the elements, while others focused on cleaning kennels, bathing dogs, and providing hands-on care and enrichment.
Last Hope also hosted their first of three spay/neuter clinics that will be taking place during the service trip, spaying 4 females and neutering 10 males. These 14 surgeries will have a huge impact on helping reduce the overpopulation of the shelters. Thank you to the North Little Rock Animal Shelter for hosting us and making it a great day!
By the end of each day, we are exhausted, covered in dirt, sore, and running on very little sleep. But every second of it is worth it. This work is not glamorous, but it is life-changing for the dogs and for the shelter partners who work tirelessly every day with limited resources. Together, we are helping create safer, cleaner, and more comfortable spaces for dogs who deserve so much more.
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