FRIENDS OF HORSESHOE BENO ANIMALS EXPAND SERVICE EFFORTS

 by Susan Clay and Charlet Estes

       Believing there are many ways to assist with animal rescue, at the January meeting of The Friends of Horseshoe Bend Animals, members voted to initiate four new service programs. White River Area on Aging, The Horseshoe’ Bend Christian Community Food Outreach Mission, the Meals on Wheels Program, and Pilots N Paws, an airplane transport organization, were brought into the assistance circle of Friends of HB Animals. By offering help to area agencies and their clients, it is hoped that the elderly needing support will be able to keep their companion pets, less litters will be reproduced if spay/neuter vouchers can be provided for those who can not afford the entire cost, and people will not have to surrender their pets due to lack of funds.

     In addition, giving Pilots N Paws a staging/support area will increase the number of flights using Horseshoe Bend Airport as a rendezvous destination for planes offering rescue transport to their four- legged passengers.

     A “young” lady by the name of Nora-Jean recently benefitted from this service when Horseshoe Bend Pilot and Airport Commissioner John Mosser volunteered to give her transportation to her new home.

     You see, Nora-Jean is a “ten-year-young” poodle mix who is blind in one eye and .has Cushings Disease, which makes her permanently incontinent… and very hard to adopt. This gal may have her share of medical challenges, but she has a heart for people, which showed when she was taken from her transport. She responded immediately with a big “smile” and a puppy-like wiggle.

     Nora-Jean had been placed with the Baxter County Animal Rescue folks and her future looked a little bleak.

     That is, until the folks in Mountain Home saw the Friends of  Horseshoe Bend Animals posting on the Pilots N Paws website last Thursday and called Adoption Coordinator Susan Clay. Clay contacted Mosser to see if he could arrange transportation to the Gulfport, Mississippi Sanctuary, a retirement home for dogs, so to speak. Mosser said he could go at least half way if someone else would meet him.

     Almost immediately, a reply came across the website from a fellow pilot headquartered in Pensacola who was willing to meet Mosser and transport the pooch the last leg of the way home.

     On Friday, February 18, John picked Nora-Jean up in Mountain Home, bringing her back to spend a little while with the folks at the shelter in the Frugal Fox building in Horseshoe Bend. And, on Sunday morning, the curly-headed little lady in the pink doggie-panties received her second boarding pass. This time the ticket was to Pascagoula, Mississippi where she switched planes for the final leg of her trip.

     Pilots N Paws is a website designed to be a meeting place for those who rescue, shelter or foster animals, and pilots and plane owners willing to assist with the transportation of animals. Pilots N Paws does not coordinate or arrange those providing these valuable services, but they provide the environment in which those involved can come together in a common place and arrange or schedule rescue flights, overnight foster care or shelter and all other related activities. To find out more, or to read more stories like Nora-Jean’s, visit online at http://www.pilotsnpaws.org/.

      Locally, if you would like to donate dog or cat food and cat litter to help with any of these programs or if you would like more information about the programs, please phone 670-4664 or 670-5968.

     Also, Friends of Horseshoe Bend Animals is in need of towels, blankets, and comforters. These items can be dropped off at The Frugal Fox, 266 Cardinal, Horseshoe Bend. Friends of Horseshoe Bend Animals wishes to say ‘thank you’ for all your support in our efforts to continue to help the dogs and cats of Horseshoe Bend.