Pilots-n-Paws are saving pet lives everyday

Pilots-n-Paws logo - Trademarked

Did you know there are pets all over the United States that are in kill-shelters and they are being saved everyday by volunteers in the Pilots-n-Paws program? Maybe you did and maybe not. Either way it is happening and it could be happening right around you. The Pilots-n-Paws network is a place for shelters and pilots to come together to explain what the shelters need and for the pilots to offer their services. Volunteer pilots make their own schedules and can donate as much or as little to the program as they want. This has helped save over 2000 pets so far since it started in February 2008. That’s an average of 3+ pets a day, which is great. The flights are now tax deductible, which helps out the volunteers. Just last week they had their large 5000 animal rescue promotion to help get 5000 pets from kill-shelters and other places into the hands of a new shelter with an adoption awaiting.

Aut:James Kleen "James with the airplane, waiting to go.

There is a pilot in the Savannah area named James Kleen. He has had a few flights to help save pets in need. He started surfing and found Pilots-n-Paws on an Airedale rescue website and also Van’s Air Force website. James has an Airedale named Darby and a cat named Buster plus 3 chickens. He joined the Pilots-n-Paws to help save pets. After joining he put his information on the website for the shelters or foster homes. He also goes to the site to look for what people need. Pilots can browse what pets are in need and see if they are close enough to help out and the dates that they would be needed. Shelters can also look for a pilot in the area of their need and contact that pilot. Even though the process is tax deductible, the pilots still have to pay for gasoline and renting a small plane if they do not own one of their own. Some of these charges can be over $100 per hour to rent a plane. The Federal Aviation regulations states the pilots may “share operating expenses” but they cannot receive money to help defray the cost of these missions. People, like James, just do this out of the kindness of their hearts and do not expect anything in return except maybe a puppy-kiss or two.

James flew a trip by himself when escorting one dog to Franklin County, NC, which was his longest flight to date. This was the most memorable trip due to it involved a sweet Doberman. This Doberman was trying to be sold by a bad breeder that had not been feeding him and had medical issues. This dog was in a parking lot to a supercenter store. A woman came up and told the man trying to sell the dog that she was taking the dog due to it being not taken care of and was appalled that someone would treat their dog like that. She made it clear she was not paying for the dog and he needed to get out of the back-yard breeding business. She then started to contact rescues that would take him. She found one in North Carolina. James was contacted to help and he went to get him. James then removed the backseat to give the dog more room. Although, after starting the plane the Doberman almost made it up front with James. The engines do seem to scare some of the dogs. James tries to have the dogs in crates, when possible. Others seem to just ride as passengers and able to move around a bit.

Aut: James Kleen  "PNP pilots James, Rob and Dick in North Carolina"

Another trip James did recently, involved a friend, Rob, and his larger plane. This trip involved puppies that were a chocolate Labrador and two terriers. They all were extremely car sick and needed to go from a high-kill shelter in Atlanta area to Pennsylvania. A Place for All Animal Rescue, in Coatesville, PA, wanted these puppies since they had homes lined up for them. This trip took three sets of people called legs to complete the five hour trip compared to the twelve if they drove. James and Rob did the Georgia to North Carolina leg, then Dick flew them to Virginia on the second leg and from there to Pennsylvania, Gary flew the puppies on the third leg. They met up with Cathy and Sharon from A Place for All Animal Rescue. This trip was special for James since once these plans were set, an Airedale Rescue group in North Carolina got a call from the Women’s Correctional Center and stated that an Airedale dug under the fence to have the company of the women and to try and find shelter. She was about one year old and was given to Animal Haven which helps the inmates train pets for adoption. The Airedale then was asked to be flown to its new foster home by Rob and James, since they were there. Well James’ house ended up being the foster home since he already has one. He named her Kelly after the woman that befriended her in the Correctional Facility.

More trips to come for James and more articles to follow about his rescues. For more information on becoming a pilot for the Pilots-n-Paws click here. If you are interested in putting a pet on there from a shelter or foster to get it placed somewhere else click here.
 

Click the paw print for the “Pet Pages” blog, a place for the authors’ personal notes.

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