Pilots N Paws

Laura Moss posted an article on the website, www.mnn.com, about the Pilots N Paws program. This is a program where pilots volunteer their time and resources to rescue animals so they can be located in a forever home.

Photo courtesy of Pilots N Paws


Pilots N Paws, is an S.C. based nonprofit organization and is the brainstorm of animal lover Debi Boies and pilot Jon Wehrenberg. It was started in 2008 when they rescued a Doberman pinscher from a Florida shelter. Today, this organization consists of 3,000 pilots and over 12,000 volunteers taking time to rescue, organize transportation and find foster homes for cats, dogs and other animals. Their efforts have resulted in over 12,000 animals finding forever homes.

Kathleen Quinn, executive director of Pilots N Paws, states there is no shortage of animals that need a home or of people willing to give them a home. The largest problem is getting them from one destination to the other. The transporting of the animals is the basis for the Pilots N Paws program.

The organization has flown a menagerie of animals from snakes to donkeys. The organization mostly flies dogs that come from shelters or that are facing retirement. Dogs used in the military are not guaranteed a plane ride home when their tour of duty comes to an end. In the year 2010, they enlisted the assistance of NAVY SEALs in Afghanistan to fly an injured Steppe eagle to a sanctuary in New York. Many of the dogs they rescue become service animals.

After a rescuer has made a post on the Pilots N Paws forum, volunteer pilots will receive an e-mail from the Pilots N Paws forum about an animal that needs to be rescued if the location falls within his flying radius. This is no easy task, pilots are often limited to 250 miles for one leg, and not all transports can be direct flights. In some cases, a volunteer will drive a leg of the trip and another pilot will complete the rescue.

　

　

　

　

　

Protection for Our Pets

An article entitled, “Bitterant Placed in Antifreeze to Protect Pets” written by RJ appeared on the site:  www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/ars/article/Bitterant-placed-in-antifreeze-to-protect-pets and I felt it was worth passing along.  All antifreeze and engine coolant manufactured for sale in the United States for the purchase by consumers will contain a bitter flavoring agent to deter pets from wanting to lap it up.   

He states that the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) along with the Humane Society Legislative Fund has passed laws in seventeen sates to require the addition of denatonium benzoate.    Phil Klein, executive vice president, legislative and public affairs for CSPA says that all 50 states where antifreeze and engine coolant are manufactured are placing the bitterant in their products.  

I know that animals are curious and will eat about anything, but I didn’t realize that over 10,000 animals are being poisoned each year from ingesting ethylene glycol.  The reason animals will lick the antifreeze is because it smells and tastes sweet.  It only takes one teaspoon of antifreeze or engine coolant to kill an average-sized cat. 

Manufactures can place all the warning labels they want on their products, but it animals owners don’t take the necessary precautions and act responsible poisonings will continue to happen.  Owning pets is an investment in time, money and requires responsible actions on the owner’s part.  Our pets cannot read nor can they detect that just because something smells and tastes good it isn’t good for their health and well being. 

Dogs rely on their sense of smell to sniff out wild birds for their human hunting companion and are even being trained to sniff out 100 year old bones.  A dog’s sense of smell if so keenly developed that being able to locate a sweet smelling poison such as antifreeze doesn’t surprise me.   Keep all poisons up high enough that your dog cannot jump up and knock it down.  If you happen to spill some on the garage floor clean it immediately.  Sand or cat litter works very well to absorb all the liquid and then it can be easily swept up and thrown away.   

Keeping our pets safe and happy is a priority at www.caninecratestore.com ; I invite you to visit our store and find the crate that is perfect for your pet.