Pilots N Paws
Transporting Rescue Animals
ShelterKarma recently heard about this fantastic organization and conducted an interview with Co-Founder, Debi Boies. Read on to find out more about these wonderful friends of animals and then visit www.pilotsnpaws.org to join, help, and share. Pilots N Paws is a 501c3 charitable organization.
What does Pilots N Paws do?
Pilots N Paws is a web site intended to be a meeting place for those who rescue, shelter, or foster animals, and pilots or plane owners willing to assist with the transporting of animals. It is not the intent of Pilots N Paws to coordinate or arrange the activities of those providing these valuable services, but to provide the environment in which those involved can, in a common place, arrange or schedule rescue flights, overnight foster care or shelter, and all other related activities. Through the discussion board, those involved can exchange information about transport publicly so that they can set up transport and share all information necessary to successfully accomplish the goal, but also to allow others to volunteer their efforts if they see help is needed to save animals.
How did Pilots N Paws get started?
I have been involved with Doberman rescue work for several years, am a retired nurse, and have been an animal lover my entire life. Transferring my love for animals to rescue work was a natural transition for me. Jon and his lovely wife are friends of ours and when Jon learned that I was adopting a Dobie from a rescue in Florida, he generously offered to fly him home to me in South Carolina. I was overwhelmed by his offer. Jon is a retired corporate business owner and he and his wife Di have rescued animals and have a tremendous love for animals in need. After that flight, Jon asked me about rescue work, animals in shelters, what happens to them, where do they go, how do they get there, etc. The easiest reply for me was to send him to various web sites where ground coordinators set up vehicle transports and to ask him to view several shelter sites as well. The next day, he sent me an E-mail and said "we need to do something!" I agreed and I suggested the name "Pilots N Paws." We did our first rescue transport flight on February 8, 2008 and have grown to where we are today.
How does the organization operate?
It is very simple. Others can join via our web site, www.pilotsnpaws.org. There are various sections under the forum board to utilize according to what you need or are offering. The pilots join and post their location and information under the "Pilot Volunteering Services" section. The rescues and shelters post their requests for animal transport under the "Animals Needing Transport" section. Once the transport request is posted, a pilot that sees the request and is in a position to help fly those animals will contact that rescue volunteer directly to work out the details. Pilots are very much in charge of the offers they extend including choice of airports, days and times. It has to be that way due to weather conditions that need to be factored in and different pilots have various conditions they are willing to fly under. There are also sections for commercial aviation and foster volunteers as well as forums for chats and sharing general information.
What kind of animals are transported? What's the oddest transport so far?
The animals the pilots transport are most offten from various kill shelters across the country. These animals, scheduled for euthanasia, have been assisted by local volunteers who will often need to move them to another part of the country where the chance for adoption is greater. General aviation pilots extend this very generous gift of transport as frequently as they can. However, longer distances (i.e. across the country) are not realistic for a general aviation pilot as it is simply too far. We have seen 2, 3 and 4 pilots work together to accomplish a longer distance, but as you can imagine, this is rather difficult--not impossible, just logistically more difficult. We have also seen pilots overnight animals, hold them until the weather clears, work with ground transporters for part of the distance needed. They have huge hearts and will do what it takes to accomplish the mission within reason. I have to say that pilot, Jeff Bennett in Florida, has transported the most unusual animal...he flew a pot bellied pig and a baby chick to a refuge shelter in another region of Florida! Seeing the pig side by side in his crate with the baby chick in it's crate was a site to see!
Does Pilots N Paws transport outside of the U.S.?
Not often, but we have had a few flights head to rescues in Canada. One of our pilots flew a few rescue animals back from Grand Turk Island and another pilot, who was flying commercially, accompanied a rescue dog who needed medical care from Puerto Rico.
How does the Pilots N Paws program work?
It is totally volunteer dependent. Rescues and shelters post their needs for animal transport and pilots reply if they can help. The two parties coordinate and work together to get the transport completed. This is the best of humanity at work and everyone is empowered by their passion for what they are doing.
How can others help?
Pilots N Paws' biggest need continues to be more pilots. We have seen that once they hear about us, they join and we have almost 500 now. We have just over 2500 registered users on the site, most of whom have joined since the beginning of 2009. Others can help by volunteering to print out flyers from our web site and take them to their general aviation small plane airports and ask permission to post them on the pilot's bulletin boards. They can offer to emergency or temp foster should a pilot have to land unexpectedly. Sharing news about the program to other groups always brings in network contacts. They can alert the media in their cities and bring awareness to the problem of animal overpopulation, the importance of spay/neuter and thank the general aviation community for all the volunteer hours they spend with all non-profit groups. Donations of crates for the animals are greatly appreciated. We have an on-line store with nice items including t-shirts that become a walking billboard for Pilots N Paws.
Would you share a favorite rescue story with our readers?
This is the most difficult question of all...there are so many. What holds true for me is from one of our earliest flights. An older Doberman was turned in to a shelter in Virginia by the family of an owner who could no longer care for it. The man was ill and the family didn't want the dog. A young pilot in North Carolina volunteered to transport this dobergent to a rescue in Ohio willing to give the dog the medical care he needed. "Rommel" was blind in one eye and had a serious limp. The weather simply was not cooperating for a flight, so the young pilot and his fiance drove from North Carolina to Virginia to pick up Rommel and foster him for two weeks. Finally, a good flying day arrived and off they flew to Ohio. It was discovered that Rommel had likely been hit by a car and no one had taken him for medical care for his fractured back leg. Hence, the limp. Funds were raised and Rommel's surgery was a huge success. Rommel was playing with his other foster friends while he healed and waited for his forever home. That home came and what a joy it was for Rommel to finally be in a loving, caring environment. His owner took Rommel everywhere and the two were inseparable. Sadly, after only three months, Rommel passed away in his sleep. We find peace in the fact that many, many people cared about him and showed him love, compassion and a kind hand before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He has become one of the "poster" animals for Pilots N Paws as everyone loves the photo of him and his pilot, both in headsets. Here is a link to the slideshow of photos taken during his flight. He will forever be in our hearts as he was the epitome of an ambassador for rescue animals everywhere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imJ6lnidOoo