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Pilots N Paws

Breaking News From Todd & Mary

Breaking news from Todd & Mary Brooks…

July 1, 2012 we started our 18th Pilots N Paws Rescue at (KHSV) Huntsville Airport in Alabama, our home base. The weather was HOT (+100), and the day started out with an expired badge. That required some fast coordination to be able to get to our airplane. Then we had a dead battery, so one of the linemen had to jump start our airplane. Once the airplane started we taxied out for takeoff.

Waiting for our clearance we heard over the radio the tail number of the folks we were to meet in Decatur, AL to pick up our first rescue. So, we made a 180 turn around and headed back to the terminal. We met up with Nancy Swanner who had Haliee, a 6-month old, black and white English pointer. Haliee started her rescue trip early in the morning; she started from Mobile, AL where she was driven to Montgomery. From Montgomery, she flew to Huntsville to meet up with us.

We loaded Haliee and an ice pack to keep her cool. Ready for takeoff, but we had another dead battery in all this heat. The poor lineman had to hurriedly jump start our airplane – again. After all of the problems and confusion, we headed to Frankfurt Capital City Airport (KFFT) in Kentucky to meet Russ Roslewski. We handed off Haliee to Russ. Haliee drank some water then we loaded her in Russ’s airplane.

He was in a hurry to get off due to bad weather in Ohio. Haliee was a great passenger. She lay in the back seat and just watched everything going on. About 45 minutes left of the flight, she wanted to ride first class (in my lap). Haliee is a great little dog and will make a great family pet.

At Capital City we met up with Marie Bowden a foster mom. She had fostered CiCi for a couple of months. CiCi is a Great Pyrenees/Lab mix. She weighed about 78 pounds. After a couple of photo shots, CiCi was ready for trip to Mid-South Great Pyrenees Rescue in Cumberland, TN. Andee met us at Dickson Airport (MO2) to receive CiCi. CiCi will be fostered until Thursday, and then she will make the ground trip to New York to meet her forever family.

It is always very emotional for these rescuers to let the dogs go, but they know the animals are headed for a better life. All rescues are complex rescues, but they end up very successful. Another part of a successful rescue is finding someone to take care of our 4 dogs. Thanks to Mathew Mason, who took care of our dogs so we could do this rescue.

We appreciate how hard the volunteers work facilitating constantly changing dogs, destinations, times, pilots, and weather.

Unfortunately many others aren’t as lucky, and as you all know, the only answer to this devastating issue is to spay/neuter/rescue. All of these dogs are really sweet, and they deserve to be curled up on the living room floor at night not tossed out like trash.

7 thoughts on “Breaking News From Todd & Mary”

  1. Connie Schachel says:

    Todd & Mary, Thanks for what you do and for the entertaining narrative. When I read of these adventures, it makes me wish I was still current and flying. Circumstances dictate otherwise but please know that in my heart, I’m flying with you on each and every flight.

    God bless!

  2. B. Klassen says:

    I just want to thank you guys for all you do. I am a foster in canada for the spca and volunteer there as well. Transport to other areas where the animals can be adopted is one of the more difficult things faced here. God bless you for helping these animals get to forever homes!!

  3. maureen says:

    wow…i am in awe of you guys and ppl like you guys. with seeing so many animals dieing and not finding homes etc..it is so great to see that a lot of them do find their furever homes and the amount of ppl it takes to get them there. sorry you had so much plane trouble 🙂 i think you guys are just awesome. thank you for what you do and for saving them babies… <3 🙂

  4. KRISTIN SADDLER says:

    LOVE Happy Landings!!

    You guys GIVE THESE ANIMALS THEIR WINGS TO A BETTER LIFE

    XO

  5. Stella Maris says:

    NO COMMENTS??…AMAZING!…YOU ARE THE CHAMPIONS!…GOD BLESS YOU AND GOOD LIFE FOR EVERYONE!…THANKS FOR THIS WONDERFUL EXAMPLE!

  6. Pat Beard says:

    Just finished the book “DOG Is My
    Copilot” and really enjoyed it. Then I read the update on Todd & Mary Brooks and Haliee. I was amazed when I saw her picture because earlier this week my neighbor found a dog that looked just like Haliee in Kansas City, Ks. They had her over night but she jumped the fence during the night and was gone the next day. Can’t think it is the same dog but how can one dog had the same markings and look the same and in Kansas City. What was her final destination? I took pictures of her in case we could find the owner. Scary. Just had to comment. I have two rescue dogs. Keep up the good work.

  7. Pat Beard says:

    Not sure if my message was sent. In short Hallie looks like a dog found in Kansas City, Ks. earlier this week. She escaped the neighbors fenced yard, however. What was her finally destination? I have pictures.

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