Just got an e-mail from Pilots N Paws--a wonderful organization that pairs rescue, shelter and foster animals with pilots willing to help transport them to their new homes. Please help them if you can!
Hello Pilots and Volunteers! We need your help!! Last year we were very successful in working together to move thousands of animals during the Pilots N Paws 5000. This year's mission is the "Pilots N Paws Gulf Coast Rescue Flyway: Pilots, planes andvolunteers helping the Animals of NOLA"
Many of you have likely seen the news reports. There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of animals who need to move out of the NewOrleans/Gulf Coast area. These are perfectly healthy animals who, through no fault of their own, have ended up in a shelter. Many had families who loved them and are direct victims of the oil spill disaster. Their owners have lost their jobs, their homes, have no income and are barely surviving. They are turning their animals over to various shelters and rescue groups to at least give their pets a chance at finding someone to care for them.
We also have an extreme shortage of volunteer pilots in that area so we have not been able to fulfill requests to move these animals to other areas. NEXT MONTH WE HOPE TO CHANGE THAT!! On September 18, with the 19th as a back-up weather date, possibly even the following weekend should the weather be totally uncooperative, we are asking for pilot volunteers to work together to move as many of these fully-vetted animals to three specific areas of the country. The areas are Lakeland, Florida, D.C. (Warrenton, VA) and Caldwell, N.J.
Florida route: Approximately 60-70 animals will be heading to three organizations in Florida: The Lakeland SPCA, the Tampa Humane Society and possibly theWellington/West Palm Humane Society. Thank you to these three groups for stepping up and opening their doors!KNEW, New Orleans Lakefront AirportKMAI, Marianna Municipal Airport, Marianna Florida for transfer to secondleg pilots KLAL, Lakeland Linder Airport where rescues will meet the arriving pilots.
D.C./Warrenton Va. Route: 30 animals will be headed to the D.C. area. Lucky Dog Rescue has generouslyagreed to receive a few of the dogs and PetConnet is working with theLouisiana SPCA to take animals in as well. If you are a rescue in the D.C. area and have space for a few more, please contact us and we will put you in touch with the sending groups in New Orleans. A PNP pilot from Clemson,S.C. has offered to fly and load his Pilatus in New Orleans and head back to Clemson to hand off to other pilots for the second leg of this trip to Warrenton, VA. KNEW, New Orleans Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, La.KCEU, Oconee County Regional Airport, Clemson, S.C. KHWY, Warrenton-Fauquier Airport , Warrenton, VA where rescues will meet the arriving pilots.
Caldwell, N.J. route: 20 or more number of animals headed to Caldwell, N.J. for pick up.PetRescueInc, Friends of Homeless Animals, Dawns Canine Rescue, and St. Huberts Shelter are willing to accept more rescued animals if we can get them there. This is the longest route and we will truly need several pilots working together with overnight foster locations on call if needed. KNEW, New Orleans Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, La.KTYS, McGhee-Tyson Airport, Knoxville, TN for transfer to second leg pilots. KMGW, Morganton Muni Airport, Morganton, WV for transfer to third-leg pilots (emergency overnight fosters and volunteers needed)KCDW, Essex County Airport in Caldwell, NJ where rescues will meet arriving pilots.
We also have discounted hotel room rates and fuel rates for those pilotswho want to fly down the day before and spend the night in New Orleans. Transport from Aero Premier FBO at New Orleans Lakefront to the Drury Innwill be available to and from the hotel. The receiving areas may be expanded beyond just these three destinations if we have pilots willing to fly the routes.
We have rescues in the Madison,Wisc. area and the Chicago area who are interested in opening their doors to animals in need. If you are a pilot along the route from New Orleans to one of these two locations, please let us know and we will expand our Rescue Flyway!
The caring rescues and shelters invovled in preparing and sending these rescue aniamls are Louisiana SPCAPAWS--Friends of Plaquemine Parish ShelterJefferson Parish Shelter East and WestOther small rescue groups who care!
If you are a rescue who can receive animals, please let us know. If you can offer temporary emergency foster in any of the route locations listed above, please send us a note as well.
Working together, we can save lives. One of our pilots has a sign in theside window of her plane that says "This plane has saved __ number of lives" Let's make that number climb next month by transporting as many animals as possible and giving them a chance to find that very specialhome.Please reply to this message on the forum board https://www.doav.virginia.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.pilotsnpaws.org/forum/posting.php?mode=edit%26f=27%26p=24091 or to us privately through pilotsnpaws@gmail.com to let us know what you can do to help. Make a flight, save a life! We can do it thanks to all of you who care sopassionately!!--
Thanks, The Pilots N Paws Management
