Thank you PNP Pilot Nick O’Connell for sharing this wonderful story.

“Flying any animal to safety is a very rewarding experience. Flying one who is sick or injured can be an emotional one. Flying a cute cuddly puppy makes you smile. Flying 14 cuddly puppies well it is off the cuteness chart! That’s just what Pilots N Paws did recently from Alabama to Virginia.

Two Shelters in Alabama were forced to close due to a loss in funding. They put out a national plea in the hope that homes could be found for all their animals before they were forced to put them down. Robin Bledsoe, Executive Director of The Heritage Humane Society in Williamsburg, VA, heard the plea and offered to help by taking in 14 puppies. The only problem was how to get them from Alabama to Virginia as quickly as possible since the shelters were closing the last day of May.

Animal rescuers and Pilot Nick O'Connell (far right) with puppies!

Enter Pilots N Paws.  Within 3 days of Robin’s call, PNP transported all 14 to Virginia. Pilot Jack Rowell took the first leg from Escambia County, AL to Atlanta. Pilot Jon Wells took the second from Atlanta to Greensboro, NC. Pilot Nick O’Connell completed the trip to Williamsburg.

Pilot Jack Rowell flying 14 puppies from Alabama to Atlanta

The pilots were thrilled, the shelters were equally thrilled, and even the puppies seemed thrilled with all the attention they received. They made the six and eleven PM local news. They were even invited to spend time in the studio with the anchors. To date five have been adopted, and the rest are slated for adoption as soon as they are ready.”

Pilot Jon Wells (left) flew the second leg of the trip

14 puppies in 13 crates flown to safety!