MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Nearly three dozen dogs from Miami-Dade’s Animal Services Department hit the road Sunday for new homes in shelters in Maryland and New Hampshire.

The 30 dogs were packed up and began their journey around 9 a.m. The transfer program which benefits shelter dogs and cats is made possible through fundraising efforts coordinated by Pawsitive 4 Life, a local animal rescue organization.

“On any given day there are hundreds of deserving pets in the shelter waiting for a loving home. In addition to adoption and rescue, transfer programs are an important part of our life saving mission,” said Alex Muñoz, Director of Animal Services.

Each year, the Dade shelter takes in approximately 30,000 pets.

Sunday’s transfer wasn’t the only one this weekend. On Saturday, nearly 100 shelter cats and kittens began their journey to their new home at a shelter in Maryland.