LAFAYETTE, Louisiana — As storm clouds approached the St. Landry Parish Airport on Friday, animal rescue volunteers loaded hundreds of animals onto an aircraft ahead of Tropical Storm Barry. The effort was a last-minute move to avoid potentially having to euthanize a large number of animals at the shelter.

The animals on the plane were heading to rescue shelters in northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey, said animal shelter director Stacey Alleman McKnight.

Kennels were labeled with destinations and names of dogs like Barbie, Milly and Mama Lillie.

The shelter had posted on Facebook earlier in the week, asking for anybody who could take in a total of 100 animals. The post was shared more than 5,000 times .