RIVERSIDE (CBS) — Volunteers loaded more than 60 dogs and cats into a small plane Wednesday as they prepared to fly them to Portland, Oregon, where a list of potential owners await their arrival.

(credit: CBS)

The trip was made possible by START animal rescue, a volunteer group based in Studio City, who picked up the tab and had volunteers crate the animals and pilot the plane.

The pilot said animals will quiet down after the plane takes off and then wake up upon landing.

Most animal transports only take dogs since they are easier to place with adoptive pet owners. However, this project gave 51 cats from the Riverside Animal Shelter a chance at a new home.

John Welsh, of Riverside Animal Services, said they still have more than 200 cats in need of new homes.

Volunteers stressed that finding pets homes, often at great expense, is only needed because many pet owners don’t spay or neuter their animals.