Request A RescueOur Rescue Fleet
When a shelter runs out of space, every hour counts. Pilots To The Rescue owns and operates its own rescue planes and transport vans, so at-risk animals get from overcrowded shelters to safety fast, at no cost to our partners.
In the Air
Big Paw, Daher Kodiak 100. Our largest rescue plane, based at Essex County Airport (KCDW) in Fairfield, NJ. Big Paw has carried as many as 68 dogs and cats on a single flight, and 83 cats on another.
Little Paw, 1980 Beechcraft Bonanza A36. Donated by Boston founder Tom Scholz, Little Paw is our nimble, economical choice for smaller missions.
Coming in the new year: a second Kodiak 100. Help us bring it home →
Out West: through a partner, we also fly a Kodiak 900 based in Camarillo, CA.
Big Paw
Little Paw
On the Ground
Our 8 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans bridge the gap between shelters and airports and run ground rescues of their own. They're stationed in Fairfield, NJ; Dallas, TX; Greenville, SC; Vero Beach, FL; and Kansas City, MO, with Houston, TX, and Nashville, TN, coming soon.
Van Collab Program
Our Van Collab Program stations a Pilots To The Rescue van right at a partner shelter. We cover all costs: the vehicle, insurance, maintenance, fuel and drivers. In return, we ask our partner to:
- work with us on out-of-state transfers
- let us park the van on-site
- give us a small area to clean and store transport crates
Health and selection requirements are set by the receiving shelter or rescue, not by us. If you don't have receiving partners lined up yet, we'll help match you with one.
Current Van Collab partners: Dallas Pets Alive · Greenville Humane Society · Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County · Humane Society of Greater Kansas City
Interested in a van at your shelter? Call 212-404-6936 or email [email protected].
2026 Mission Stats
Keep the Fleet Flying
Every mission is funded by supporters like you.