Wade Roberts has been busy again.  His latest tales follow.

After months of crappy, unpredictable and unreliable weather, Southeast Texas had a run of days perfect for flying dogs.  So it was that I came to fly a little more than 17 flight hours over four days in an eight-day period.

10/15/2014 – Buddy is a gentle two-year-old Dachshund with limited use of his hind legs; he needed transport from Odessa TX, West Texas, where he had been an owner-surrender to the local animal shelter. Buddy had been rescued by Nancy Henderson, of All Texas Dachshund Rescue (ATDR), and had to get Buddy to foster Trina Williquette in Houston, TX for treatment and rehab. Lou (no last name per his request), a PNP pilot in Central Texas, volunteered to fly Buddy from Odessa to Georgetown TX; we would rendezvous there and transfer Buddy to 20223 for a flight to Hooks Memorial Airport in Houston.

Nancy wrote: “Buddy is a 2 yr old dachshund who was injured in mid-September and lost the use of his hind legs. His owners surrendered him to Odessa Animal Control, not knowing how to help him. Immediately the Shelter Manager at OAC, Jacque Adimare, put in a call to All Texas Dachshund Rescue with the simple plea: “Can you help?” The response was “of course we can!” A local foster transported Buddy to Tall City Vet Clinic in Midland for evaluation and the news was good. He still had deep pain sensation in both extremities. He was knuckling under a bit, but he was still able to support all his weight on all fours for very brief periods of time. So, he was admitted for hospital care: crate rest and steroids. When the time was right, water therapy was added to his treatment regimen. Then finally the day came when it was safe for him to travel to his foster home.

“A very special ATDR foster stepped up and agreed to take Buddy in for the remainder of his treatment. She has a great deal of experience rehabilitating downed dachshunds, and has the benefit of a quiet and serene home environment where Buddy can finish out his crate rest in peace. To set the plan in motion to transfer Buddy to this new home, there was one small hitch. Buddy was in Midland and the foster happened to be in Spring. So another plea went out, this time to Pilots N Paws. And, of course, the wonderful PNP volunteers stepped up and agreed to get Buddy quickly and safely to the new place. Understanding the hazards of putting a dog with a spinal cord injury through 8-9 grueling hours of automobile travel, Wade and Lou were able to deliver him in about 4.

“Lou, Wade, thank you SO MUCH –you are so generous to give of your time and resources to help these dogs. It is nothing short of amazing what you are willing to do to help these little guys.

“Buddy has had many changes–losing his family and home, his ability to walk, and now spending the day “waltzing across Texas” with you big-hearted guys. But Buddy’s new life is starting today! I know he is in great hands with Trina. Nothin’ but sunshine for this little guy from now on!

Lou and I also heard from Trina: “ Buddy is a very sweet boy. He wanted a belly rub as soon as he was let out of his carrier. He has already eaten and gone potty outside. He had some supervised exploring/sniffing inside of his new home and outside in his new yard. He is doing better than I expected with attempting to walk. I am very hopeful that with time and rest his back will heal. Buddy has met the other dogs in my home. He’s now zonked out in his crate/bed sleeping on the super soft blanket that Nancy sent with him. 🙂 It’s been an eventful day for Buddy but it’s all good.

“Thanks again to all of you who helped make a BIG difference in a little dog’s life.”

Kelly Tietz at Pearland Regional Airport with senior lady

10/16/2014 – Two darling Shih Tzus, one missing his right hind foot, Neal Jefferson, and the second a senior lady, Ana Claire needed urgent transport from New Orleans LA, where their time was running out at Jefferson Parish Animal Control.

Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue Rescue had a pick up, Pam Shelton, ready and waiting in Houston. I flew 20223 from Pearland Regional Airport to St. John the Baptist Parish airport, just outside of New Orleans, took delivery from animal control, boarded the little souls, and flew back to Pearland to hand them over to Pam.

Donna Sicard of LSSTLA wrote: “I have been wanting to get involved with Pilots N Paws for a while now. They mainly use their planes to transport urgent medical care pets or seniors that would not do well with a ground transport, passing from one car to another one until they reach their destination. I posted Neal Jefferson (the little paw-less Tzu from Jefferson Parish) and a pilot, Wade Roberts, from Pearland, TX responded. He can pick up Neal Jefferson from the area and bring him and a senior female to Pearland Regional airport.”

10/19/2014 – Augustus was a 45-pound lab mix that had been rescued and fostered by CARE near Austin TX. The charming boy had been adopted by a couple in Fort Smith AR. The adopters could drive part of the way to pick him up, but Fort Smith-Austin was out of the question. Chrissie Welborn posted a transport request to PNP. Fellow Pearland Regional pilot Scott Bennett and I flew to Austin Executive Airport to board Augustus and delivered the good boy at Mesquite Metro in Dallas to Sharon and her husband T.J., who had driven there the day before and stayed overnight in a hotel with eager expectations of their new addition.

T.J. and Sharon with Augustus

10/23/2014 – Most of the Houston TX-area animal control facilities are high-kill. The Austin TX Humane Society is a no-kill facility, which occasionally has openings for adoptable dogs. Rescuer Mary Alvarez of the Save S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition had identified three candidates at Missouri City TX Animal Control in the Houston area. Ground transport wasn’t working out.

Unusual hitch: The dogs would be evaluated at AHS. Any dog that did not meet the cut would have to be flown back.

Truman with new friend at Austin Exec

I departed Pearland Regional at 8:30 a.m. for the short hop to Houston Southwest Airport, where a Missouri City animal control officer was waiting with two 45-lb. sweethearts, Suzy and Lacy, and Truman, a loveable 15-lb. mix. Boarded them and arrived at Austin Exec close to 11 a.m., where I handed them over to Katherine Mitchelll; Katherine was driving the three to AHS for their evaluation.

Lacy with new friend at Austin Exec

I settled in for a wait at the Austin Exec terminal. Around 1 p.m., I got a text from Katherine: due to space, AHS could only take two of the three. Truman would be going back.

Katherine Mitchell, L, Suzy, and new friend at Austin Exec

This was what I had dreaded: Having to fly a dog back to Missouri City Animal Control, which pretty much amounted to a death sentence. I knew that I would bawl the entire flight back. I waited for Truman’s arrival back at Austin Exec.

Not too long later, I got a call from Katherine, who truly has a heart of gold. Truman would be safe at Roman’s Rescue near Austin.

Flew home empty and happy.

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