August 2025

Pilots To The Rescue News - August 2025

August is always a challenging month for Pilots To The Rescue. After welcoming hundreds of new intakes in July, our shelter partners are counting on us - now more than ever - so they don’t have to euthanize perfectly healthy animals just to make more space.  Thanks to your INCREDIBLE support, 74 dogs and 97 cats are no longer fearing for their furry lives.  Many of these animals were scheduled to be euthanized in the middle of August before Pilots To The Rescue swooped in. Today, they are happy and safe because of YOU!

In this month's newsletter, we'd like to introduce you to Oakley, a brave dog who found her fur-ever home with the help of our dedicated community. Scroll down further for some highlights from Pilots To The Rescue's first team-wide retreat!

Oakley's Cross-Country Flight to a New Family

You’ve never met a more curious paw-ssenger than little Oakley, weighing just under 10 pounds and already an expert cuddler.  On August 14th, volunteer pilots Mackenzie and Paul took to the skies rescue Oakley along with 10 other dogs and 14 cats from multiple overcrowded shelters in Georgia. 

Though he had never been on a plane before (and had possibly never seen one in his life), Oakley clearly knew he was going to a better place, and was practically dragging us back onto the aircraft!

This life-saving mission took flight thanks to Pilots To The Rescue working hand in hand with Seuk’s Army. Together, we ensured Oakley's safe passage to a brighter future.  Accompanying MacKenzie and Paul in the cockpit was Brooke Hughes, founder of Foster Tales Puppy Therapy.  During the flight, Oakley's joy was impossible to miss. Snuggled into Brooke's arms, he soaked up every ounce of love, reminding us just how much comfort and healing rescue animals bring when given the chance.

With the help of All 4 The Dogs Rescue, we found a new family for Oakley right away. Two volunteers from Seuk's Army even took it upon themselves to personally deliver Oakley to his fur-ever home.  

Pilots To The Rescue Saves Our 5,000th Pet!

Since our very first mission in 2015, Pilots To The Rescue has now officially saved more than 5,000 animals! 

This milestone isn't just ours - it belongs to all of you - every supporter, volunteer, and friend who believed that together, we could make a difference. Every donation, every word of encouragement, and every introduction to like-minded animal lovers has helped us turn hope into second chances. You have helped grow our organization beyond our wildest dreams.

As we look ahead to the next decade of impact, our sights are set even higher. With your continued support, we're determined to rescue even more animals and take an even bigger bite out of animal cruelty in 2026 and beyond.

When you stand with Pilots To The Rescue, you're not just fueling airplanes - you're fueling hope, healing, and forever homes. We can't wait to see what we'll achieve together in the next 10 years.

The First Pilots To The Rescue Team Retreat

In honor of Pilots To The Rescue’s 10th anniversary, we hosted our first ever team-wide retreat in August.  Volunteer pilots, board members, team members, and their families came together in upstate New York to celebrate a decade of life-saving missions together.

Though we are technically based in Brooklyn, New York, many of our team members work remotely in different locations throughout the East Coast. So, this retreat was even more special because it was the first time some of our team members had met in person. 

Joined by our spouses, kids and yes, a few of our own furry kids as well, we hiked through the stunning Catskill mountains, enjoyed delicious local foodie spots, and held a glorious birthday celebration for our founder and Top Dog, Michael Schneider!Here he is with some of our amazing volunteer pilots (from left to right): Paul, Vikingur, Michael and Stephen.  

Pilots To The Rescue’s journey of impact over the years is a testament to Michael’s passion for animal rescue, and his iron-clad belief that we as a community can make a real difference in the animal overpopulation crisis.  That includes you, reading this newsletter right now. Every time you share our cause with your friends and loved ones, you fuel our growth and help us rescue more precious animals from euthanasia. 

It’s been one heck of a decade, but we’re just getting started. We can’t wait to see what the power of our community can fuel over the next 10 years. From our team to you, thank you for your support!