Driving Hope: One Woman’s Journey To Save Animals

Meet the woman turning road trips into lifelines for animals in need — a story of hope, compassion, and the power of one person’s determination to make a difference.

Photo Credit: Kristy Kokolakis

When you picture animal rescue, you might imagine a shelter, cages lined with hopeful eyes, or a vet clinic giving a dog its second chance. But for many animals, rescue starts not in a shelter — but in a car. And for countless cats, dogs, and even farm animals across the U.S., that car belongs to Kristy Kokolakis of Newtown, Connecticut.

Through her nonprofit Open Road Hauling, Kristy has turned her life into a lifeline. She drives thousands of miles to pick up abandoned animals, pull dogs from dangerous situations, and deliver them to shelters, fosters, or forever homes that can take them in. Her mission is simple but urgent: to make sure animals have a chance — and to personally bridge the miles between despair and safety.

“Whatever idea you have in your brain, there are 10 times more rescues, 10 times more animals, 10 times more abuse situations,” Kristy told Newstimes. “Being a rescue means you’re financially responsible for that dog … you’re the guardian of that dog.”

A Journey That Began with Three Cats

Kristy’s path to this work wasn’t planned. Back in 2019, she was working as a paralegal when she picked up a side gig transporting three cats from Milford, CT, to New Jersey. That trip changed everything.

She saw firsthand how something as simple as a ride could save lives — and how many animals were stranded because no one could physically get them to safety.

Over time, she left her office job behind and devoted herself full-time to transport work. Today, she has driven through more than 42 states and has carried animals out of abuse, abandonment, natural disasters, and overcrowded shelters. Each trip is a rescue mission on wheels.

A Mission with Teeth — and Costs

Rescue work sounds heartwarming, but Kristy is honest about its cost. She has already gone through three different cars because of the wear and tear from constant road trips. She covers gas, lodging, food, and vet bills — often relying on donations to keep going.

“I think a lot of people have this idea that rescues are glamorous. But they are not. They are heartbreak, and bills, and driving through the night with a car full of scared animals.” (source)

One of her most memorable rescues involved 11 blue heeler puppies living in rough conditions in Texas. She transported them to a no-kill shelter in Mississippi, where they could be vetted and adopted. She has also moved animals out of wildfire zones and hurricane-affected areas, sometimes rescuing both pets and their owners.

Love as Responsibility

Kristy’s story reframes what it means to “love animals.” Love, in her case, is not just a warm feeling — it’s a responsibility she carries every time she loads a crate into her car.

She is especially drawn to the animals who live outside the safety of shelter walls: the strays, the neglected, the ones without anyone else looking out for them. Part of her long-term dream is to build a small space in Newtown where she can house animals temporarily when transport can’t happen right away — and to use it as a place to educate kids about rescue, spay/neuter programs, and compassion for animals.

The Ripple Effect

Kristy is not just a driver — she’s a connector. Her 63,000+ social media followers often tag her in rescue alerts. Even when she cannot personally make the trip, she shares resources, connects people with local rescues, and amplifies calls for help.

This ripple effect means that her work extends far beyond the animals in her van. She is helping to grow a culture of compassion — one that normalizes stepping up when you see suffering.

Lessons for All of Us

Kristy’s commitment raises powerful questions for those of us who may never transport an animal across state lines:

• What “transport work” could we do in our own lives?
• Who in our community needs help getting from a place of danger or despair to a place of safety and belonging?
• How can we offer not just money or words, but the hard work of follow-through?

Her story is a reminder that sometimes kindness isn’t convenient — but it is necessary. And often, it is the bridge that saves a life.

How You Can Help

If Kristy’s story moves you, you can support Open Road Hauling through donations, sharing her posts, or even volunteering for local transport work. You can also support your local shelters and spay/neuter programs — because every step reduces the number of animals who need rescuing in the first place.