FLIGHTS FOR FRANK
WHO WE ARE
Founded in December 2022, Flights For Frank is a rescue initiative dedicated to helping basset hounds escape dangerous conditions in China and find loving forever homes in the United States.
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In China, basset hounds are illegal to own as pets and are included on the government’s banned breed list. Because of this, any basset hound found can be seized and destroyed at any time. Despite these restrictions, irresponsible backyard breeding continues, and many of these dogs end up abandoned, sold on the black market, or sold to be slaughtered in the dog meat trade.
While some U.S.-based rescues occasionally sponsor dogs from overseas, international rescue is both costly and complex. With so many urgent needs here at home, most organizations simply don’t have the capacity to take on these cases—leaving countless hounds without a path to safety.
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That’s where Flights For Frank comes in.
In partnership with Hope For China Dogs Rescue and their dedicated network of local rescuers, we step in when a basset hound is found in need. From there, we rally the global basset community to raise funds for medical care, travel costs, and import paperwork—handling every step of their journey until they’re safely placed in a loving U.S. home.
As of 2025, Flights For Frank has proudly guided 11 basset hounds on their rescue journey. Our mission continues—because every hound deserves their flight home.
A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDER
​I founded Flights For Frank after the passing of my beloved basset hound, Frank, in 2022. He was a very special soul who was originally rescued from a meat truck outside Beijing. His rescue was an incredible international effort made possible through Furry Tales Beijing, Hope For China Dogs Rescue, and The Beagle Freedom Project’s Dogs In The Dark Initiative.
Frank was pure joy. He was goofy, spunky, and full of life. Losing him so suddenly in 2022 was devastating, but I knew his story couldn’t end there. Frank was one of the few lucky hounds who made it out of China and into a life filled with love. I felt called to help give that same chance to others like him, and that’s how Flights For Frank was born.
My love for basset hounds began long before Frank. I grew up with a basset named Sherlock, later adopted Cletus when I first moved to Los Angeles, and today I’m the proud dog mom of Ford and Barney—Barney being one of our Flights For Frank rescues, whom I initially fostered… but who never left.
Frank’s spirit continues to inspire everything we do. Every flight, every rescue, every wagging tail is a tribute to him. To everyone who has supported this mission, shared our stories, donated, or simply fallen in love with these hounds—thank you. You are helping keep Frank’s legacy alive and giving so many more bassets the chance to live the life they could have only dreamed of.
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-Ashley Joy Parker
OUR RESCUE PARTNERS
Flights For Frank is proud to partner with Hope For China Dogs Rescue (HFCDR) — an incredible organization dedicated to saving dogs from some of the most heartbreaking situations in China.
Founded by Helenna Nobler, a Chinese national and American citizen, Hope For China Dog Rescue has been tirelessly working for years to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs in need. Helenna and her devoted team have witnessed firsthand the inhumane treatment many dogs face, and their volunteers are relentless in their mission — intercepting meat trucks, pulling dogs off the streets, and rescuing animals from abusive or neglectful conditions.
When basset hounds are found, HFCDR contacts Flights For Frank to help coordinate their next chapter. Once rescued, these dogs are brought to a volunteer-run safe haven in rural China, where they receive food, water, and necessary medical care before beginning their journey home.
Together, we work to transport these hounds from safety in China to loving homes in the United States and Canada. The journey is long, complex, and costly — but with the support of compassionate people like you, we’re able to give these hounds the second chance they deserve.​
