Saved by Pilots David Diamond and Wayne McClelland.

Written beautifully and accurately by David Diamond.

Thank you Pilots N Paws for making this all possible. We would love to have you post Lucas’s success story on your website to encourage others to take action to save lives.

Sincerely, Elizabeth Van Der Velde

STORY:

Lucas was about 24 hours away from euthanasia when Elizabeth Van Der Velde spotted his “last chance” post from the Riverside animal shelter. Lucas had been found roaming in a field with a fractured back leg. He had a collar on at the time, so he belonged with somebody. No one came to claim him.

Elizabeth asked Jeff Rosenthal, an veterinary surgeon in Boise, Idaho, if he could help Lucas. Jeff agreed, so long as Lucas could get from Riverside, California to Boise, Idaho.

After appealing for help online, Elizabeth was referred to me, and she learned that this was the sort of thing we Pilots N Paws pilots do. The problem was that we had only 24 hours to move this pooch a considerable distance.

Further complicating the matter was that, because Lucas was injured, Riverside animal shelter wouldn’t release him to an individual–it had to be a rescue organization known to them. While Elizabeth searched for rescue contacts in the Riverside area who would be willing to get Lucas, I set out to plan this transport from the air side.

I contacted pilot Wayne McClelland, who immediately agreed to help. Wayne has done many Pilots N Paws missions–sometimes traveling great distances–so we owe him a debt of thanks.

The plan was that Wayne would fly Lucas to Fresno, where I would pick him up and fly him back to Truckee. Weather wasn’t great, so I figured Lucas would stay with me a few nights, then we’d figure out how to get him to Boise.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth found Bridget Blitsch, of Furry Flights to Freedom, who agreed to jailbreak Lucas. Stacy Nieto paid to have Lucas transported to the Riverside airport, where Wayne was waiting.

Lucas was very friendly, though understandably a bit nervous–not surprising for a pooch who had no idea what was going on, but knew it involved strangers, two airplanes and the pain of a broken leg.

I ended up having Lucas with for three days. During that time, we had a lot of fun. He loved the snow and, despite his leg pain, he loved to go for walks. I took him to the Truckee Tahoe Airport, where there is a park in which dogs can play, and a staff full of dog lovers. I figured it was a safe place for him.

During the entire time I had Lucas, he showed no signs of  aggression. Even when I had to pick him up to take him up or down stairs, when he was in obvious pain, he never once so much as snapped at me. In fact, he never even made a sound, other than a pain whimper, until the last night.

We were playing on my front deck, which oversees the forest across the street. All of a sudden, Lucas stops and stares across to the forest. He stood that way for about fifteen seconds until he let out the most menacing low growl. It was dark, so I couldn’t see what he saw; but there are animals all around my house, so it could have been anything–a coyote, bear, bobcat, mountain lion.

We were on the second floor, so he couldn’t run after it. But he did the darnedest thing: He pushed himself between me and the deck railing, so as to put himself between me and whatever it was he saw. I moved to the side and he re-positioned himself in front of me, as if it was his job to protect me, growling at whatever it was, all the while.

After a while, he stopped and turned to lick me and, I guess, make sure I was okay. That was the first time I cried at the idea of having to say goodbye to him.

The next morning, I flew him to Boise myself. Elizabeth and a representative from the Idaho Human Society were there to meet us. It was very tough to say goodbye to Lucas. I couldn’t hold back my tears. It’s one thing to transport a pooch whom you know is going to a good home, but I knew Lucas had a lot of unknowns ahead of him.

The flight home was a tough one. But the next day, I got word that Jeff had performed the surgery and that things were looking good! After a few days, Lucas was able to go home with Elizabeth, where she is now fostering him and working on his rehabilitation. In time, he will be up for adoption. And someone–some very lucky person–will take him in.

Thanks to everyone who was involved with this transport, including Elizabeth Van Der Velde, Heidi Neilson, Heather Alvey, Wayne McClelland, Bridget Blitsch, Stacy Nieto and, of course, Jeff Rosenthal, for doing such a wonderful thing for our boy, Lucas. Thanks also to Pilots N Paws for making it possible to save lives.

I try not to judge those who breed, sell or buy animals. All I ask is that those who have love and a home to share with a pet, should first see what pets are in shelters needing homes. Lucas is a spectacularly beautiful German Sheppard, but he is not the only one of his kind without a family. If distance is an issue, contact Pilots N paws.

If you do insist on buying a pup with papers, maybe at least see what you can do to help those who have no papers, no families and, in too many cases, no more time.