One look at those saucer-size eyes, that furrowed brow, those bear-cub ears and that wet snout — you're done for.

That warm rush and thump in your chest. Yeah, that’s your heart having all the feels.

It’s love.

Who could turn away this sweet pup? Ummm, how about no one ever.

But that’s the thing. Someone did. Actually, lots of people did.

This one adorable pup was among the many unwanted Chihuahua-mix breeds waiting in a Phoenix animal shelter for a home.

Then, a group of animal lovers stepped in and decided to give this fur baby and 48 others a second chance. Even if that chance meant fueling up an airplane and flying nearly 1,000 miles to find a home.

Saving lives, finding homes

Shelters in Maricopa County are overflowing with certain breeds that are in demand in other regions of the United States.

"Chihuahuas and pit bulls and cats are the most populated pets in Maricopa County," said Erin Denmark, outreach manager with HALO Animal Rescue, a Phoenix-based no-kill facility.

She said it’s easier to find this little breed with a funny name a home in some states outside of Arizona because there are fewer Chihuahuas available for adoption.

In 2012, a Phoenix attorney and a retired surgeon from Wyoming decided to tackle this supply-and-demand problem in the shelter world.

The two friends and animal lovers met in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Judy Zimet, the attorney, said the mission started after she got a call four years ago from Peter Rork, the surgeon. She had moved to Scottsdale to practice law.

Judy listened as Peter told her that his wife had died. He was alone and looking for a way to start over. He didn't want to work as a orthopedic surgeon anymore.

“He called me and said, ‘I don’t have the heart for this anymore. I just want to fly my airplane and save animals,'” Judy said.

They came up with a plan to fly animals from crowded shelters to ones where there's room and demand for the breeds. Judy had planned on helping Peter only with the legal paperwork to start the non-profit organization.

The plan was to turn Peter’s small Cessna plane into a lifesaving vessel for dogs and cats at risk for euthanasia. They named the animal-rescue venture Dog Is My CoPilot.

They chose the name in part because Peter liked to think of his own shelter dog, Doyle, a black Labrador retriever with soulful brown eyes, as his canine co-pilot on the rescue flights.

Judy started searching for shelters that were willing to promise to keep animals until they found each one a home.

“We also have them sign an agreement that no animals will be displaced and that they have a demand for the animal,” she said.

After the first few flights, word spread of the airplane that specialized in giving animals a second chance.

Soon Judy realized she didn't want her work with Dog Is My CoPilot to be temporary. She jokes now that she’s still an attorney so she can fund her animal-rescue work.

“It’s just an incredible opportunity to bring happiness, as corny as that sounds,” she said.

The non-profit venture operates primarily from donations and doesn’t charge the rescue organizations for the flight. Since the first flight in 2012, nearly 3,500 animals have been saved. The organization now flies to 11 Western states.

As demand for more lifesaving flights grew, Peter and Judy knew they needed a new plan.

18 famous animals from Arizona

Bigger plane, 49 second chances, 1 goodbye

Last month, Judy and Peter took steps toward doubling the number of animal lives they save.

Dog Is My CoPilot bought a bigger plane to fly animals from shelters where no one wants them to places where they'll find a home.

Judy says she expects the extra cargo space to increase the number of animals flown each year from about 1,000 to at least 2,500. The bigger plane also means there’s room for saving bigger breeds like pit bulls or German shepherds.

On a cool morning in March, Peter piloted the maiden flight for the new plane from Arizona. He carried 49 animals, mostly Chihuahuas in many shapes, colors and sizes.

Shelter volunteers from HALO and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, where the dogs had been staying, met Peter and Judy at the Scottsdale Airpark to help the animals board the plane. They sweet-talked the nervous, wiggly dogs heading to the Idaho Humane Society in Boise.

They cuddled Oreo, who loves to play with other dogs, and Frankie, who likes to burrow in his blankets, and little Sara, who’s known for being shy when you first meet her but warms up after building a little trust. They hoped all the pups on the flight would soon find a family.

“It’s great to give these kind of dogs a quicker chance to get their forever family rather than have to sit in a shelter,” said Erin, the Halo manager.

Judy would check on how the Arizona dogs were doing in Idaho.

Ten days after the flight, she got an update. All but about a dozen pups already had a new home, a family. The remaining dogs are getting extra training and care so they're ready for their new homes, said Allison Maier, an Idaho Humane Society spokeswoman.

"These little dogs, they go fast here," Maier said.

Judy likes to think of each flight as a lifesaver for puppies on the plane as well as ones in Phoenix who still need a home.

"Not only have we saved 3,500 animals, but every time we move another animal out of the shelter we’ve made room for another,” Judy said.

Peter and Judy will remember the flight from Arizona for another reason.

Two days after flying the 49 Arizona dogs, Judy and Peter had to say goodbye to one special friend.

Doyle, Peter's canine co-pilot, died. Judy posted the news, along with photos of Doyle on a mountain hike, in the airplane and guarding his favorite tennis ball, on the non-profit organization's Facebook page.

"It is a very sad day...Doyle, the original CoPilot, our mascot, our logo inspiration, and Pilot Peter's best friend crossed the rainbow bridge this evening. He will be furever missed, and furever the top "Dog" at Dog is My CoPilot."

Hundreds of people left prayers for Peter and for Doyle. Soon Peter posted a thank-you and a promise.

"I want to thank all of you for your kind words about Doyle. When 10,000 dogs are killed every day, it seems small to mourn the passing of one, but I was Doyle's people, and he was my dog. He flew many rescue flights with me. So with our new plane, we hope to double or triple our numbers of transported animals. 

Doyle was a rescue. I owe this to him and the thousands like him."