February 19th 2017 Todd and Rick started our 51st Pilots N Paws Rescue at Guntersville (8A1) airport.

 Todd was working with Rick on his complex aircraft endorsement.  So they took Rick’s C182RG to fulfill both Rick’s training and save some dogs.  Thanks Rick!  

They were delayed at the start of the mission due to early morning foggy weather at Guntersville and in Walker County.  After a 45 minute delay, they were able to land at Walker county airport to meet Tracy Raburn.  They loaded 3 puppies and momma, boxer sheppard mixes, 1 ten week old puppy named Joey, and a standard poodle named Jaques.  Jaques was well behaved and got to ride in his own seat.  Once loaded with the 6 passengers, they took off to Bainbridge, Georgia KBGE.  

Todd and Rick met Donna Shannon in her Piper Arrow. She is a pilot and veterinarian from Clearwater Florida.  All dogs were transferred to her airplane without incident.  Donna was flying to Tampa Executive to drop off all six of the passengers.  

These freedom flights are always complex and chaotic (organized chaos), but they end up very successful. We appreciate how hard PilotsNPaws staff, the volunteers, and the flight crews work facilitating constantly changing dogs, destinations, times, 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 N737LQ

Todd & Mary Brooks & Rick Schansman