When Private Pilot Christophe Masiero planned a trip from Charlotte, NC to Winter Haven, FL to attend an aviation event and some flight training in April, he looked at the PilotsNPaws (PNP) website to see if he could assist some Rescues on the ground with transporting a few good dogs to safety at the same time.

In Lancaster, SC, Brandy bringing Pebbles and Obie for their trip to FL

Through the PNP website, he found Carol, running the Ziggy Beagle Rescue in FL, had posted a request to get 2 nice Beagles out of the Chester Country Animal Shelter and transport both of them to Melbourne, FL. Since Chester is the county next door to the departure airport, Brandy, the officer from the Animal Control Unit agreed to drive Pebbles and Obie to the Lancaster, SC airport on April 6th for the ride of their lives that will give both of them a chance.

At Baer Aviation in Melbourne, FL, Lynn and Margaret picking up Pebbles and Obie as they arrived in sunny FL.

Meanwhile, Christophe also got in touch with Phyl who posted a request on the PNP website to transfer a lively American Bulldog named Jackson (Jax) from Georgia to Florida. Both Phyl and Carey, a volunteer with the American Bulldog Rescue, coordinated his transportation from his current foster mum, Heather, who helped Jax to recover from a broken leg, to Angela, his new foster mum with whom he will wait for his final adoptive family.

Jax arriving at Ft Myers, picked up by Angela’s husband.

After talking to all parties involved, Christophe left Lancaster, SC the morning of April 6th with Pebbles and Obie and flew to Calhoun, GA to pick up Jax.  He flew his 3 furry passengers at 9,000 feet to Melbourne, FL where he left the 2 Beagles with volunteers Lynn and Margaret mid-afternoon, crossed the Florida peninsula in the clouds towards Fort Myers to drop Jax, and then arrived at his final destination of Winter Haven by 8pm after a 4-leg, 843 nautical mile, yet rewarding flight.

Colleen saying goodbye to Joanna at the Winter Haven airport

When Christophe was ready to head north after getting his Seaplane rating at Jack Brown’s and some time flying Peggy & Tim Preston’s Stearman, he checked the PNP website again and found a post from Kristen with the New England Lab Rescue. She was looking to transfer Colleen, a friendly female Lab from Joanna, her foster mum in St Cloud, FL, to Georgia in order to catch a ground transport to New England and get to her forever home. To beat the incoming bad weather, Joanna drove Colleen to the Winter Haven airport at 6:30am on April 11th.  After an uneventful flight, Kathryn came to pick her up at the Griffin, GA airport. Kathrun then arranged for Colleen to catch her ground transportation the coming weekend so she could unite with her adoptive family.

A lot of people involved, many efforts to synchronize these flights, and 4 dogs rescued. Thank you to everyone involved!