Loading them in the Columbia

We’ve had another successful puppy rescue.

Long story short – Through the Pilots N Paws web site, we learned about a litter of Pit-bull puppies who had been abandoned at the Humane Society in Freeport, Illinois.  Due to a lack of resources these puppies were going to be put to sleep on Monday 11/7. The good news was that there was a foster home waiting for them in Valentine, Nebraska, if there was a way to transport them there.

These guys fought like monsters not to be put in their crate. Sorry, but this is to save your lives.

Wow, Freeport, IL to Omaha, NE… that’s a whole lot of fuel to burn. Of course we’re gunna do it, but its gunna be expensive…

Lots of Kisses to Go Around

Typical of the generosity of the Aviation Community and the fantastic resources of Pilots N Paws it turned out that we wouldn’t have to make the full journey.  A generous pilot named Sue Clark living in the San Francisco area, whom I had met briefly while working the Wings of Mercy booth at the Oshkosh Air Show and now also flies for Pilots N Paws, was also watching the story of these puppies unfold. Sue contacted me, reminded me of when we met and told me that if I would fly the puppies to Des Moines, Iowa – she would fly all the way from San Francisco to Des Moines, rent a car, and drive the puppies the rest of the way.

How utterly amazing. How utterly common in the Aviation / Pilots N Paws community.

If she was really willing to spend that much energy to save these puppies, I was willing to do my part, too.

Speaking of Energy - These Guys Sure Had Lots of it!

The best part of the story is that two of the six puppies were actually adopted in Freeport before I could ever get there.  The remaining four puppies continued with their driver, Craig Dobbs, to a foster home in Valentine to start their new lives.

Sue Clark really was there waiting for us!

And Susan, since I know you’re reading this I have to say that I have not met a person as generous as you in a long time. I hope the best for you and really hope I run into you again next summer.

Pete Tobin