As told by Dr. Rick Roth, an experienced PNP pilot…

Hello again everyone from a cold Savannah, Georgia!!

A recent rescue mission was a glorious day for a young female Border Collie named “Savannah” of all things.

After a “bugger” of a 2010 year, that included a total of 10 Pilots and Paws rescue missions to break up the ups and downs of my personal life, my medical practice, the dreary economic climate and yes even “vitriolic” politics and such, I knew that a canine rescue flight on the 1st weekend I had off duty was clearly the order of the day.

Anyway, you can’t always “time” when a rescue mission might pop up, but the ‘opportunity knocked’ as I was about to partake in a bit of Asian-fusion fare…fresh cilantro & shrimp summer rolls & and Ahi tuna tartar with a spiced up black bean dipping sauce and a premeal Prilosec of course.

Once again the smart phone chimed in with a rescue request for a sweet Border Collie named “Lacy”…now renamed “Savannah”…that was a short timer for this world in an already full Metter, Georgia shelter that had no local adoptive homes stepping up to the plate for this canine in need of a loving master. Savannah went to the shelter through the notification of animal control by a well meaning Metter resident that noticed her regularly playing with his own Basset Hound, but he just couldn’t afford to take on another dog to feed and care for appropriately.

Metter is a small southeast Georgia community with a very small shelter…maybe 5-10 slots for both felines & canines alike.  Thus, after two weeks in the Metter ‘facility’ with no local takers, Phoenix Rising Border Collie Rescue in the Carolinas worked to set things in motion to get Savannah out of the shelter and up to the metropolis of Spartanburg, SC since they had a good potential adoptive home up there under the direction of Ms. Kristie Cantrell and her team members.

A Pilots and Paws email went out Thursday with some local dispatch assistance from Mike Calarruda of Savannah Aviation and I fueled up N23CL for the early Saturday morning round robin flight from KSAV (Savannah Airport) to KTBR (Statesboro Airport) to pick up our lucky rescue and then fly her to KSPA (Spartanburg Airport) to meet up with Kristie as Savannah’s final destination.

My usual “O-Dark-Thirty”….ie..0600AM local KSAV departure time allowed me to meet up with Carole and her grandchildren rescue “crew” of Madeleine & Ana Claire on the KTBR tarmac at 0630 with Savannah in hand & ready for her rescue flight. They even had hot coffee in hand for her Captain “Rick,” who was warned by sweet Ana Claire not to spill it in flight!

As the photo depicts quite well, Carole & her granddaughters, the blonde Madeliene and our flower adorned brunette Ana Claire, braved the dark & frigid early morning weather with warm smiles and thrived on this learning experience of doing God’s work for our beloved four pawed friends. (Carol defines her rescue efforts as a “ministry”, and her grandchildren disciples in my opinion are in the presence of a great pastor!)

Now with my hot caffeinated staple of ‘morning joe’ well positioned in the empty front seat next to me in my Bonanza and with Savannah safely stowed in her soft-crate in the rear cabin area the rescue leg to KSPA began.  “Charlie-Lima”….otherwise known as my call sign for my aircraft thrived in the calm cool air and the favorable winds aloft put my flight time up to the snowy Spartanburg airfield in just under an hour en route. 

As the sun rose off my right wing, I cold see the white snow covered farms below to the left which were worth a quick photo as well since this airman that rarely sees the snow if ever below my trusted aluminum wings.  Savannah never whined nor whimpered in her crate aloft and smooth skies blessed our joint travel at 5,000 feet with well below zero outside temperatures.

KSPA is under construction to a degree, but out through the temporary double wide trailer facilities appeared Ms. Kristie on time and warmly dressed to meet and take the hand off of our lucky rescue dog.  Waggy tailed and tongue a hangin’ sprouted Savannah out of her crate from the aircrafts rear cabin and into the arms and smiling face of Kristie as if they were lifelong buddies.  A few minutes in the trailers for some more “joe” and a quick stop to warm up passed like seconds and I was back into Charlie-Lima for the empty ferry leg flight home to KSAV.

Kristie had a pre-arranged vet visit lined up for Savannah which unfortunately revealed heartworm screen positive to add another challenge to her young life, but she has been a survivor so far and should be in her forever home in a month or so. A spay is in her near future of course as well.

Smooth skies prevailed as I piloted the return leg safely to KSAV by 0930am to put ‘Charlie-Lima’ to bed in the hangar until my next flight.

Lastly, as I close this rescue’s vignette, I was kindly given a passage from Jim Willis writing’s in 1999. It reads:  “I looked at all the caged shelter animals…the cast offs of society. Their eye’s filled with love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. “God,” I said, This is TERRIBLE!  Why don’t you do something?”  God was silent for a moment, then He softly spoke in reply…..I have done something….I created you.”

 Have a great week everyone!

 Rick Roth, MD

Dr. Roth and Kristie at KSPA with Savannah

Rescuers Carole, Madeliene, and Ana Claire with Savannah at KTBR

Snow covered farms en route to Spartanburg