HAYDEN - It was like Christmas morning when the plane landed.

Eager volunteers crowded around to fetch the pet carriers from within the aircraft. A few yips and cries were let out, but when the initial shock of landing subsided, a chorus of chilly, frightened and excited dogs began.

Despite fast winds and an hour delay, the doggie airlift was a success.

Kootenai Humane Society rescued 32 mostly little dogs from Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento via airlift Saturday afternoon. About 25 volunteers came to Pappy Boyington Field at the Coeur d'Alene Airport to help unload the plane and load the canine carriers into the KHS truck.

Volunteer Judy Coe of Hayden walks shelter dogs with friends every Saturday. She said being a part of the airlift rescue was indescribable.

"It's so wonderful to be a part of this and to be here with the other people you know care so passionately about the dogs and rescue," she said. "We walk them, we socialize them, and we celebrate when they're adopted. In fact, an old dog just got adopted today. We love them, we hug them, we kiss them, we celebrate them. And this is a celebration, too."

The airlift was a first for KHS, which is known as a no-kill shelter. KHS partnered with Van Nuys, Calif.-based animal rescue organization Wings of Rescue to make the transport possible. KHS director of development Vicky Nelson said the partnership came about because the two organizations happened to contact each other at the same time.

"They called us to see if we had room for more dogs, and we said, 'Absolutely yes," she said. "We had plenty of room."

Nelson said the dog population in KHS is lower in the winter, so it was able to clear out one of its two adoption wings to make room for the California canines.

"Most of the dogs we have here are larger, and people are always wanting small dogs," she said. "And surprisingly, most of the dogs in California are smaller, so they're trying to get rid of the small ones."

According to www.wingsofrescue.org, California is suffering a "pet overpopulation crisis," leading to a high volume of euthanizations. The organization rescues animals from kill shelters and sends them on private planes to new homes along the West Coast and into Idaho and Canada.

Pilot Chris Cookson of Los Angeles flew the rescue mission in his Cessna 414 Chancellor. He said he has flown dogs into Oregon, but never Idaho. The flight was more than five times faster than average ground transport, which may leave canine passengers extremely ill.

"It's a nice feeling to know that they'll survive. That wasn't going to happen," he said. "It's great that there are no-kill shelters."

Nelson said all the California canines fared the flight well, but they will not be available for viewing or adoption for at least a week so KHS can conduct health inspections and alterations.

"I'm amazed that they all fit in that plane, and they are just precious," she said. "Oh my gosh, they are just precious."