Mary & Todd’s Personal Flyaway Story
On September 29th 2012, Todd and I went on our 20th Pilots N Paws Rescue. It was called the “Dog Is My Copilot” Rescue Flyway. Literally hundreds of volunteers both pilots and rescues came together in Charlotte North Carolina to change the lives of 319 animals. With many airplanes on the ground at Morgan County airport, they were able to fill the airplanes and send these adoptable dogs and cats on their way to find new families to love. Due to bad weather there were four pilots that were unable to attend. That made last minute changes to which dog would fit on which airplane a lot more difficult. Goal was to leave no animal behind no matter how crowded their ride would be.
Subaru sponsored this rescue and made sure that transportation was available from the FBO to the hotel and back, along with providing our hotel rooms and catering dinner and breakfast for all folks who worked the transports. The City of Monroe was crucial in providing all pilots the support they needed.
Our part of the flight was picking up Fritz, a whippet pit bull terrier mix from Memphis, Tennessee, at Madison Co airport in Huntsville from Mike Elliott of Memphis. Fritz was a great passenger and slept all the way to Charlotte. Once we landed in Charlotte he became the center of attention as he was the first rescue dog that had landed. Fritz will fly with PNP to his forever home in Tarpon Springs. Fritz won the hearts of many including mine. Fritz was pulled from a short life as a bait dog. His ears had been cut off with scissors.
Travis Shrewsbury and Kim Adkins drove five hours (one way) from the Virginia/West Virginia line to bring us Pepper in Charlotte. Pepper is a 98lb Rottweiler with a great disposition. This rescue was on, then off, for several days. Reason for cancellation was Pepper had been listed as an aggressive dog. Well the animal control that picked up Pepper from the streets had pepper sprayed him along with roping him with a pole leash. No wonder Pepper didn’t want to get into a crate! Well Pepper is not aggressive, and we flew him back to Huntsville where he went to a shelter until he finds a new family to live with.
We also rescued Lincoln, a Jack Russell terror. Lincoln was scared but very loving. We flew him to Tennessee to a shelter who will find a new family for him.
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.
Cessna N2858F
Todd & Mary Brooks