Pilots N Paws Helps Alcorn Strays Find New Homes

16. Aug, 2012 Comments Off

Posted on: 5:47 pm, August 13, 2012, by Dennis Turner

(Corinth, MS) For years, pet adoptions were a local thing, but these days you can adopt a pet from just about any shelter in the country, if you can get the pet sent to you.

Now, a group called “Pilots N Paws” makes that part of the deal, a reality.

The Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter has begun working toward becoming a “no-kill” shelter, so they’re getting aggressive about adoptions.

They’re even reaching out on the internet, and in the last year, have adopted out 549 pets.

“Billings” headed for a new life!

That’s meant long car trips for some of the animals, until the shelter director learned about a group that will fly animals for free.

”We talked to people who were using pilots and paws and what a great organization that they were,” said Charlotte Doehner of the Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter.

Pilots N Paws unites pets and their new adoptive families all over the country.

When a home was found in Ohio for a dog known as “Mr. Billings,” Pilots N Paws flyer Jeff Spencer stepped up, ”I enjoy animals. I enjoy helping animals. I really enjoy flying”.

“Billings” and his first pilot Jeff Spencer

Spencer said the group’s pilots pay the entire cost of the trip out of their own pockets.

He says it’s something he’d do anyway, to log more flying hours in his plane,.

He likes the benefit of helping people and their pets, ”The last thing I came to realize as I got more involved in it, is it exposes me to what I call the better aspect of people”.

It’s also helping shelter employees reach out farther to adopt more animals, as they look to a day they never have to put another one down.

“Billings” and volunteer Peggy Goodall

Pilots N Paws is apparently a win-win for everybody, as pets get new homes faster and pilots get valuable flying time.

View the full story here: http://wreg.com/2012/08/13/pilots-n-paws-helps-alcorn-pets/#ooid=0weWxtNToQX4WD7HEJbXM3HRkqwovgPM

Finally arriving in Ohio, thank you second pilot Jeff May!

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From rescuer Karon Stewart: Midwest Regional Director, Eskie Rescuers United:

Little Billings is a 14 lb, 18 mo old American Eskimo dog mix that was stuck in a shelter in Corinth, MS for 2 months. It seems people down there want bigger dogs so Billings was always just passed by. Eskie Rescuers United, a nationwide 501(c)3 American Eskimo rescue, heard of his plight and went to work to find him some financial sponsors and a foster. In no time at all, Billings was on his way to freedom and a new life.

Jeff Spencer flew from Corinth to Bowling Green, Kentucky where he met Jeff May. Jeff Spencer is an experienced PNP pilot who has flown many four legged creatures, but for Jeff May…it was his first! I think he fell in love with Billings and the thrill of helping a little dog out.

Billings is now in a warm home, getting some good food, and great attention from his foster mom, Peggy.