Posted on 05/11/2012 6:42:21 AM PDT by KeyLargo
Puppy Love: Pilots To The Rescue
16 dogs and 6 cats were rescued thanks to the help of two volunteers from Pilots N Paws
By Sandra Torres and Stefan Holt Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Seven thousand feet over Central Illinois, a chocolate lab puppy rests its head on the shoulder of pilot Pete Tobin, seemingly lulled to sleep by the hum of the plane’s engine.
“On every rescue there’s about one dog that stands out,” Pete says through the headset, “one that makes it special and makes it all worth it. This little guy is the most special one on this trip.”
Just hours ago, this special little guy was in line to be euthanized at the Wayne County Humane Society. Instead he and 16 other dogs, plus six cats, were taken to the Fairfield Municipal Airport, where they were loaded into the back of a small, single-engine Columbia 350. A plane that normally seats four humans is now flying 22 strayed, orphaned and unwanted animals to Chicago on a flight path towards a brighter future.
Pete and his wife, Karen Johnson, are part of a growing corps of aviators who volunteer their weekends and their personal planes to support rescue flights posted on an Internet forum called Pilots N Paws.
The organization was founded in 2008 and serves as an online meeting place for animal rescue groups to coordinate with more than 2,500 general aviation pilots willing to use their personal airplanes to transport shelter animals to towns where they could be adopted.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcchicago.com ...
God Bless these generous and kind folks.
Uplifting story, that exemplifies the America Spirit...thanks for posting this KL! :)
What a wonderful thing they are doing.
“They’ve had animals die being transported…”
It sounds like these little guys need to be tranquilized before a long road trip.
Whatever, these folks are doing a wonderful service. God bless them.
Panama has something similar. The only thing pending, which is about to pass as law, is anybody caught mistreating an animal will be mistreated in the wallet and maybe also go to the slammer.
Puppy Love Ping
Thanks, Daffynition!!
May God bless you for what you’ve done.
I guess I’m patting myself on the back but it’s my policy too to adopt only old dogs. I feel so sorry for them since it seems that most folks go for the puppies and young dogs and the old fellows are behind, usually in a small space until they die.
One thing that can be said for old dogs: you know what you’re getting. With puppies you have to wait.
Bless for opening up your heart to a critter who was in need. :)
*Anybody* can join Operation Roger, if you’d like to be involved in helping to transport adopted pets to their new homes:
http://operationroger.rescuegroups.org/
The truckers *always* need ‘way station’ temporary homes and point-to-point short distance transportation help.
I checked out the site and the following was at the top of their home page.....wonderful news...God bless all those men and woman rescuing “God’s creatures, great and small”
“We finally got caught up on all of our Pet Transport Applications and are currently working on catching up on all e-mails (had over 250 when got back in the office plus 15-20 daily since—down to 69 this morning!!! yeaa), then it’s on to the voice mails. We have a big backlog. Please be patient with us.”
Excellent! Deserves a donation! THX for the link.
I love heartwarming stories like this! Renews my faith in humankind [a little bit].
I joined them back when we didn’t know how we’d get the two Portuguese Podengo Medios out of the shelter in CA and into their new homes in NE and MD.
We were on the waiting list when the shelter director got involved and set up flights for the girls.
I’m still “on call” for my area.
Doesn’t seem to be much action in these parts, though.
Haven’t gotten to lodge/transport anybody yet.
But...I wait.
I consider that wonderful news.
They are *so* willing to help but still relatively unknown.
With more public awareness comes more volunteer transporters.
I always have a soft spot for truckers....I see them doing a whole lot of good on the American highway....
Due to being a biker, I find myself spending an inordinate amount of time amongst truckers.
There’s kind of a “brotherhood” between the two groups.
Car drivers tend to almost hit us but truckers go out of their way to watch our backs.
Hubby used to be a long haul trucker and now his ersatz “son” is one.
He calls him on the road all the time and they ‘talk trucks’ and swap stories.
[until my eyes glaze over]
LOL
**Can he stay mom? Please? Please?**
I worried about that but how could I keep a dog from some little kid who’s waiting for it?
[I never said I wouldn’t cry some]
:]
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