Puppies “Take to the Skies”
Excerpt about Pilots N Paws from the Amityville Record
BY JOANNE ANDERSON
Puppies “Take to the Skies”: More magic soared to Wantagh from 731 miles away. Last Hope pulls dogs from an overcrowded shelter in Kentucky, with a high euthanasia rate. Two litters of puppies stood little chance of survival if they remained there, but no land transport was scheduled for the weekend of the grand opening.
Instead, Last Hope volunteer Dale got in touch with a pilot friend Alex. She actually met his family when she helped them trap and neuter feral cats. After Dale’s extensive flight coordination, six lucky pups arrived by way of “relay” air transport that began Saturday morning in Kentucky and ended that evening at Republic Airport in Farmingdale. Because of the generosity of three pilots, all members of an organization known as Pilots ‘N’ Paws, these Shepherd/Husky pups are safe under Last Hope’s care.
Pilot Jon picked up the pups in Owensboro, KY and flew them to Amy in Danville, KY who took them to Alex in Hagerstown, MD who brought them home with him to Farmingdale. The pups were given “potty” breaks and water before the each leg of their journey.
Pilots ‘N’ Paws is a volunteer network that brings together pilots who fly homeless animals at no charge to rescue groups all over the United States. Pilots ‘N’ Paws combines the pilots’ passion for aviation with their love of animals. Although the separate legs of their flight totaled about five and a half hours, our puppies handled the long trip well. We even had the ability to track their journey via the web. Best of all, a foster parent was waiting at Wantagh to take each pup home. To learn more about Pilots ‘N’ Paws missions of mercy, visit:pjd.aey.mybluehost.me/.
Costco donated sheet cake for the grand opening. It already said: “Love is in the Air”. Besides referring to our airmail pups, you could see and feel the love everywhere. With this fitting confectionery inscription, you could taste it too.
