DONE-cocker spaniel Sioux Falls, SD to Elyria,Ohio

[Lisa720]

I have been fostering a really sweet cockers spaniel that needs to go a new foster home in Elyria, Ohio. What was supposed to be a 48 hour foster has turned into 3 weeks. Ground transportation just can't seem to be arranged. The transport can happen from Sioux Falls, SD or Sioux City, IA to Ohio. If you can help, please let me know. Thanks.

[Jon]

Lisa,

First, this is a long distance transport, and even with General Aviation planes it might take two or more legs. Adding to the issue is the weather this time of year. The final issue is you have drawn a line in the sand and set the dates.

If the weather is bad looking at the long range forecasts, pilots are just not going to respond. The second problem is if a group of pilots work together to set up a relay, they need a rescue at every waypoint to be willing to pick up the pups and hold them until the next pilot in line can do the next leg. There are too many reasons why a rescue using aviation will not come together as planned.

I would suggest that you also get more specific as to where in OH. It is a big state and a pilot in Toledo will not want to help if the destination is Cinncy.

Have you considered a commercial flight, such as Sarah describes accessed through our home page?

I hate being negative, but it is worse if rescues have unrealistic expectations. With some adjustments a transport could be arranged.

[Lisa720]

Perhaps I don't understand this site/organization. I thought you preferred to work with rescues. When I read the guidelines for this site it said to put to/from locations and a date of transport. My destination isn't necessarily set in stone. The foster home that she is going to is willing to help transport too. I thought maybe keeping it open would allow for more possible scenerios. Maybe you can clarify for me so I can understand how to utilize this site better. Thanks. In the meantime I took off the dates (since they are flexible) and put in the specific location.

[Jon]

Excellent. If you only know the general endpoints such as Cleveland area that is a big holp. Having flexibility in the dates is another big plus because as pilots we have all kinds of scheduling concerns starting with jobs, other obligations, and of course weather.

The next step I reccomend is to go to the pilots map and see if there are pilots along the path that you can encourage to take the flight or a portion of the flight. Do not be shy about emailing or sending a PM to a pilot along the route asking if he can do the flight, a leg, or even assist you in creating a multi leg transport with rescues at each waypoint willing to hold and shelter the pups in case the next pilot or leg cannot be completed immediately.

This time of the year weather is a huge issue in the north, especially around the Great Lakes where icing is a flight hazard.

Don't worry about doing anything wrong. If you have questions, ask. If you need help, ask. Every one of us is a relative newcomer to this concept and as much as you and other rescues are learning, so are we pilots. But one thing is for sure. We are saving animals and with each day we save more. I hope other pilots and rescues will jump in and offer help or guidance as well because there are many ways to get the job done.