*UPDATE: Wally has been adopted!  Attached is picture of Wally and his new owner, Carol*

Carol and Wally

On February 28, 2015, Ryck Lydecker and I met at Montgomery County Airpark, Gaithersburg, Maryland, to ready my Piper Warrior for our trip to New River Valley Airport, Dublin, Virginia to pick up Wally.  Wally is a senior Shih Tzu / Poodle mix.  The weather was still a frigid 14 degrees, so we did an engine preheat, a preflight inspection, filed our required flight plan, and we were off.  This was Ryck’s first flight in a small plane, and he was excited to see his house below on our way out of the Washington, DC flight area.

The flight was uneventful except for a 20-knot headwind that delayed our arrival.  When we arrived, Marilyn Hollie was waiting for us at the terminal with Wally.  Marilyn works with the Giles County Animal Shelter and had made arrangements through thePoodle Rescue of Vermont (PRVT) for Wally’s transportation to Vermont.  Marilyn had already dressed Wally warmly for the trip and provided us with a bag containing Wally’s medical records, his leash, and some prescribed medications.  After some photos, Ryck, Wally, and I departed for Gaithersburg.

Needless to say, a headwind in one direction becomes a tailwind when going the opposite direction, so our return trip was much faster.  When we landed at Gaithersburg, we met Lisa Stoudt who had volunteered to drive Wally, along her three other dogs, to Vermont.  Lisa had visited friends in Maryland and was returning home.  Lisa dropped Wally off with Miranda Robinson, PRVT’s Transport Coordinator, who was fostering Wally.  Miranda was invaluable in helping us organize the trip.

The next morning, we received an email from Lisa showing Wally relaxing after his long trip (Lisa had driven the whole way with only a brief break).  We also received a thank you note from Marilyn:  “My little shelter is grateful to have found PRVT.  Wally is a southern boy at heart and facing some changes, but he was certainly worth saving.  Thanks EVERYONE!”  Ryck and I enjoyed our part in helping Wally find a new home.

-PNP Pilot Kent Shaw