by WMBF News Reporter Will Whitson

FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) Dozens of pilots took part in a massive airlift operation for abused and rescued dogs at the Florence Regional Airport Saturday. Pilots moved over one hundred and thirty dogs to new homes or no-kill shelters across the country.

 

 

The event is part of a program called Pilots ‘N Paws, a non-profit group that brings pilots from all over the nation together to transport animals at risk of being euthanized or abused. The group focuses heavily on the South due to widespread overpopulation of pets.

“The spay and neuter practices are not followed very well, and there tends to be overcrowding,” said Pilots ‘N Paws founder Debi Boies. Debi said the group chose Florence as their location for their third annual awareness event today due to the airport’s proximity to Chesterfield County, where twenty two dogs were found shot to death in a landfill earlier this year.

“The story of the Chesterfield twenty-two really resonated with a lot of our volunteers and pilots,” Boies said. “Animals don’t need to be inhumanely euthanized.”

Many of the volunteers that rehabilitated and cared for the rescued animals are local, and are thrilled to be connected to an organization with a nationwide network of animal lovers. The Mitchell family, who took care of an abused dog named Chief from their home in Florence, came to say goodbye as he traveled to his new home in Virginia.

“I was so excited when I found out that Chief was going to be a part of this,” said Renee Mitchell.

But saying goodbye isn’t easy for the volunteers who have come to love their four-legged friends, and some became emotional as the last plane took off.

“I was wishing we could keep Chief,” said Lloyd Mitchell. “But now we’re going to try and keep our home open for more rescues.”

You can find out more information on Pilots ‘N Paws by visiting their website, pjd.aey.mybluehost.me/.

Copyright 2011 WMBF News. All Rights Reserved

https://www.wmbfnews.com/story/15487348/pilots-airlift-dogs-bring-them-home