PILOTS N PAWS | BLOG THE CHANGE FOR ANIMALS

There’s a strong possibility some of you reading this blog post today, are not aware of our Pilots N Paws post from last October. This organization is so near and dear to my heart I was delighted to participate in this quarters: Blog the Change for Animals blog hop – I couldn’t resist talking about these pawsome people…

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So what exactly is Pilots N Paws? Simply put – they are volunteer licensed pilots who donate their time, resources, and private planes to rescue animals from shelters where time is running out.

I understand this all started with Debi Boies who wanted a Doberman flown from Florida to South Carolina in 2008. Since then, Pilots N Paws has transported more than 75,000 animals. #amazing

They do not just transport dogs and cats either. In August they flew a bear cub badly burned in a Washington State wildfire to a Lake Tahoe wildlife facility where she is being treated for her burns.

I was first introduced to Pilots N Paws when I was a columnist for The Virginia Maryland Dog magazine. Pam Wahl, Publisher / Editor-in-Chief, told me she’d met the most courageous group of people doing wonderful work with saving the lives of animals.

Smitten with this crusade, Pam was traveling as often as she could to meet these planes as they landed to rest, refuel, transfer animals, and switch pilots. She captivated all my attention every time, as she told me pawdorable stories about the puppies and senior dogs at the airfield.

Weeks later she would give me updates on certain animals she’d described earlier. I too was hooked. It was during one of these many conversations when she invited me to join her at a local airfield for one of their scheduled stops.

Of course I accepted – who wouldn’t want to witness something like this?

A family furrend and retired Airforce pilot offered to fly both the boys and Doodle Dad down there in his plane leaving his wife and I to follow along by car – BOL.  Harley was quite comfy in the cockpit…

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Unfortunately we could only talk about if they could fly because the plane was grounded due to a “no show” of a particular part replacement necessary for flight. However, Harley seemed to love his runway taxi test…

Last month Harley’s social calendar took a head on collision with an already accepted invitation to the Wigglebutt Warriors event. So we were unable to attend this years Pilots N Paws benefit. How exciting though, for all the aviator fans to see and meet Patty Wagstaff…

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This non profit organization performs countless selfless acts not only saving the lives of so many animals, but also helping them get a fresh new start with loving furever homes.

Pam Wahl is now a student pilot and Vice President of Pilots N Paws #yougogirl I have no doubt one day very soon Harley and I will both be standing on the edge of some grassy airfield watching her navigate her own plane onto the runway carrying animals to safety all by herself 🙂

For more about Pilots N Paws, including information about volunteering and guidelines for rescues, visit www.pilotsnpaws.org.

We’re joining Blog the Change for Animals Blog Hop today. Please read the other blog posts throughout the day and offer help or encouragement where you can. Remember, a kind word can make a difference!

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Thanks for reading…

17 Comments
  • Pamela | Something Wagging This Way Comes
    October 15, 2014

    First, I must say how wonderful Harley is in every situation. You did such a great job socializing him.

    My husband and I have been walking about how we’ll be able to give back once we becoming transients aboard a boat. Perhaps we should start paws aboard and sail dogs to new homes?

    But I don’t think anyone would be interested in waiting for a dog in a vessel that only travels 5 mph. 🙂

    I guess it’s good that pilots are willing to do this important work.

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 15, 2014

      Thank you very much Pamela, your compliment means so much to me, you see – I’ve never owned a dog before 🙂 I will have to agree with you about the boat transports, could take a bit of a while to get from point A to point B! But you know, there’s always a first..

  • Beth | Daily Dog Tag
    October 15, 2014

    Pilots N Paws is a fantastic organization. I love reading about these generous volunteers!

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 15, 2014

      Thanks Beth – I feel the exact same way 🙂

  • Sue
    October 15, 2014

    Wonderful post about a fantastic organization!

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 15, 2014

      Thanks Sue – Pilots N Paws is truly a special group of people doing incredible things for animals. I love their efforts.

  • KimT
    October 15, 2014

    Pilots N Paws is such an admirable organization, filling such a unique need and always for the benefit of our animal friends. Harley is one cool dawg to be riding in that special aircraft next to that pawsome person!

    Thank you for blogging the change for animals,
    KimT
    btc4animals.com

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 15, 2014

      Thanks Kim for having us. Pilots N Paws does such a pawsome job with their rescue program it was my pleasure to write this post.

  • Emma
    October 15, 2014

    What a cool idea!

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 15, 2014

      Emma, It’s a great deal of fun – there are so many interesting people participating, you really have a wonderful time.

  • Maxwell, Faraday & Allie
    October 15, 2014

    Our humans are both pilots and hope someday to have the time to volunteer for this fabulous group!

    🙂

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 15, 2014

      How cool is that! As pilots and animal lovers you both would probably love volunteering.

  • Jackie Bouchard
    October 16, 2014

    Such a great organization! It’s so cool of them to donate their time and effort like that!

  • 2 Brown Dawgs
    October 17, 2014

    It sounds like a wonderful organization. Very cool about the bear cub.

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 17, 2014

      Hey 2 Brown Dogs – they really are a special group. I am always in awe when I am in their presence. I would have loved to see the transport of the bear cub. They’ve done some other exotic animals also.

  • Bethany
    October 19, 2014

    I remember your last post about this great group. I’m so glad you posted about them again! Wonderful volunteers like this need and deserve as much recognition as possible.

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 19, 2014

      Bethany – I really wanted to be there and support them, but since I couldn’t I thought this opportunity was a pawfect way to let them know Harley & I are still huge fans. Thanks for stopping by!