Marijke Joins the Rescue Ranks
(We thank Marijke Unger and LadiesLoveTaildraggers.com for permission to use this story. Photos by Marijke Unger unless otherwise noted.)
Two weeks ago, our two canine protagonists were facing death at shelters in Texas. Thanks to multiple rescue coordinators, ground transport volunteers, facebook, and Pilots N Paws, they were given a chance at a new life.
Their pilot on the final leg of the journey was Marijke Unger, who flies a 1976 Citabria 7KCAB out of Longmont, Colorado (KLMO), and this was her first PNP flight. Marijke shared her story and photos with PNP, and with LadiesLoveTaildraggers.com.
Today I flew my first mission for Pilots ‘n’ Paws, an organization of volunteer pilots and transport coordinators dedicated to moving rescued pets to their new homes. It was an amazing experience.
My two charges, Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp, were headed from a kill shelter in Texas to their new home in Pinedale, Wyoming, to be united with Christine and her blue heeler, Wyatt Earp. The family is complete, and it was immensely rewarding to see big smiles and madly wagging tails at our destination.
I’d like to thank a number of people who were instrumental in making this happen, and who helped make my first PNP flight a safe and successful one: Eric Menchen for helping host two pups and their transport coordinator overnight, for his patience, and for handling food and logistics. Doedo Schipper for many hours spent helping to reconfigure the plane and install crates, as well as supplying parts, crates, and extra hands, and for asking all the right questions to make sure I knew what I was doing. Air West Flight Center, and in particular David King and Larry Kuebrich for expertise, advice, parts, crates, moral support, and a sectional chart. D.J. Molny for his quick response and crate loan. And to everyone who wished me well and kept fingers crossed for good weather. THANK YOU!!!
This was a fantastic first PNP flight, and I’m looking forward to the next one already!
Marijke Unger