December 2025

Friends, our hearts are flying higher than ever as we put another year of saving lives in the books. 2025 was Pilots To The Rescue’s most pivotal year to date. We are still in awe of the numerous milestones we reached this year, because it shows just how strong our community has become. 

Over the past 12 months, we: 

Our impact is not only measured in miles flown, but in hearts united. Whether you’ve donated, shared a post, joined us on a mission, or just sent us some love on social media, THANK YOU for making 2025 an unforgettable year! Thousands of loving homes would not have been blessed with new furry family members without you.

Scroll down for more reasons 2025 was so special, including an update on one of our most beloved paw-ssengers from this past year. 

Turning Airspace Into Awareness

Over the years, Pilots To The Rescue has received an outpouring of local and national media coverage. These stories have amplified our mission far beyond what we could have imagined. To every journalist who leaned in, asked the hard questions about euthanasia, and chose to amplify our story with heart: thank you. By shining your cameras and your compassion on our mission, you didn’t just report the news. You gave a voice to animals who can't ask for help themselves. Yet the most powerful voices aren’t always behind a microphone. They’re yours...our community of supporters. When you tell others why Pilots To The Rescue matters to you, you become part of the story that saves lives. Every time you share a rescue story, forward this newsletter, or show a friend a rescue pup's photo, you help carry our mission farther than any single flight ever could.

Adoption Pup-date: Adelaide the 3-Legged Wonder!

Of all the pets we rescued in 2025, very few got as much love and attention as Adelaide, the German Shepherd mix who was originally found collapsed on the side of the road in February. Adelaide's bright, gentle personality might come as a surprise considering she was abandoned by her former owner and was discovered with a severely injured leg that eventually had to be amputated.

Despite all she's been through, you’ve never met a happier, more loving pup. That’s why it’s no surprise that Adelaide was able to find her fur-ever home just a few weeks after her rescue! According to her new human Poppa, she is now enjoying an extremely active life in her new home state of New Jersey. Originally from Texas, Adelaide recently got to play in the snow for the very first time, and boy did she bounce, burrow, and zoom faster than any tripod could ever dream. This is what a second chance looks like: sun-soaked zoomies in a safe backyard, and peaceful naps with her furry brother, Bentley, who welcomed her with open paws and a mountain of toys.

One More Milestone: Bringing 200 Pets Home for the Holidays

2025 wasn’t just a milestone year for Pilots To The Rescue. This was also the year we watched the strength of our community rise to unbelievable, unprecedented heights. Together, we didn’t just meet our goals. We soared past them. Each milestone reached was powered by YOU, our wonderful community of supporters who refuse to look away, refuse to give up, and wholeheartedly believe every life is worth saving. This Giving Season, we called on our community to raise $25K in matching donations so we could bring 200 animals home for the holidays. Just as we hoped, you rose to the call. Your support made holiday miracles happen for 200 homeless animals! That includes a litter of 6 puppies we rescued from South Carolina on December 13th.  About 8 weeks old at the time of the rescue, the whole litter was days away from being euthanized solely due to overcrowding at their shelter. Can you believe these little souls would have been euthanized if we hadn't saved them?

We flew these precious puppies along with 16 other dogs to Freedom First Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania. Since they were so chubby and adorable, the staff couldn’t help but name the dogs after their favorite fast food chains.

Introducing four little miracles: BK, Mickey D, Hardees, and Buccees!

Thanks to your generosity, these pups didn't have to spend the holidays in a loud, cramped shelter with their furry lives hanging in the balance. In fact, here they are being spoiled in their fur-ever homes, while the other pups are warm and cozy with their devoted foster families. That’s the magic you made possible. You didn’t just save lives, you delivered 200 pets home for the holidays. During the most wonderful time of the year, you gave them the gift that matters most: hope.

Here's to 10 More Years!

As Pilots To The Rescue celebrates our 10th anniversary, it humbles us to think that we’ve saved 5,800+ animals since 2015! That’s 5,800 stories of fear turned to freedom, uncertainty turned to wagging tails, and loneliness turned to love...all because of you.

We couldn't be prouder, but we also couldn't be more motivated to keep flying. In communities across the country, more shelters are overflowing, more animals are still waiting for a lifeline, and hundreds of thousands more lives are at stake.

This is where our next decade of rescue missions takes flight. Come take your Co-Pawlet seat as we embark on another decade of impact.

Will you make a year-end gift today?

• $120: the cost to save one more furry life
• $300: helps us fly animals from disaster zones to safety
• $1,000: receive updates from animals rescued in your custom engraved crate

Your generosity now fuels how many more tails will wag, how many hearts can heal, and how many more gentle hands will rest on velvety ears.

On behalf of the entire team at Pilots To The Rescue,

THANK YOU for being a part of our 10-year journey!

Here’s to another decade of flying to save lives.