ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Teenage pilots are airlifting animals from shelters in New Mexico to places out of state where they have a better chance of being adopted.

The program is a collaboration between the Barkhouse animal shelter in Las Cruces and the SAMS Academy Aviation in Albuquerque, local TV station KRQE reports.

The high school student pilots need light hours, while the shelters need to move animals to areas where they are more likely to be adopted.

"In our region, we have a major pet overpopulation issue," said Koko Dean, managing director of Barkhouse, adding that overcrowding at sh...