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Pilots To The Rescue - March 2026
Spring is off to an incredible start at Pilots To The Rescue. You helped us save our 600th pet of 2026, including the 136 dogs and 105 cats we rescued in the month of March!
In this edition of our monthly newsletter, we thought we'd brighten up your day with two adoption stories of bravery and survival. You’ll never look at stray dogs the same way again after meeting Einstein, who kept himself alive on the streets of South Carolina for months but never gave up hope. And then there's Blaylock, a timid little puppy who was abandoned in the worst possible location before a kind human being stepped in. We’re also proud to announce that our new plane, Little Paw - graciously donated to us by Tom Scholz of Boston - recently completed its first special ops mission.
Einstein's Theory: Hope + Love = Freedom
Einstein’s exact breed may be a mystery - and an ongoing debate on social media - but his heart of gold is on full display.
He’s playful, curious, and loves people so much that it’s hard to believe he was originally a stray.
His hair was a matted mess, but underneath all that dirt was a contagious smile, the kind that says "Will you be my friend?".
Local authorities aren't sure how Einstein found himself on the streets of rural South Carolina. It looked like he'd been wandering around for months, surviving off of whatever he could find.
It's safe to say this 2-year-old boy had it rough before he was eventually picked up by animal control.
On March 6th, volunteer pilot Stephen Nur and co-pawlet Jen Xu got behind the wheel of our rescue van and drove 11 hours down to South Carolina to save Einstein along with 20 other dogs and 3 cats.
Even though he looks like an old man, Einstein's energy and tail wags were off the charts!
Knowing he was bound for new adventures and brighter days, he made sure to tell us and all of YOU fueling our missions: “Thank you" as clearly as possible!
Once he was arrived at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, Einstein was thrilled to explore his new environment and made plenty of new friends along the way.
He even joined Mt. Pleasant staff for a trip to the bank - and reportedly tried to work the ATM by poking the buttons with his nose!
Of course, it didn’t take much time to find Einstein a family who was ready to give him the love he undoubtedly deserves.
Presenting, Einstein and his fur-ever family!
A pup who once waited for kindness now wakes up wrapped in it every single day. Einstein doesn’t just have a home… he has his fur-ever home. And it’s all because someone like you chose to care. But here’s the truth we see every day: Einstein’s story isn’t rare because hope is rare. It’s rare because not enough people hear stories like his. What if they did?
- What if one more person saw what’s possible when compassion takes flight?
- What if one more family decided to open their heart?
- What if one more life was changed because you chose to share his story?
That's why we’re asking you for one small favor: Will you spread the love by sharing Einstein's story with a friend? Post it where others can see. Be the reason someone else discovers just how powerful our mission can be.
We're Expanding Our Ground Transport Crew!
If you’ve been following Pilots To The Rescue for a while, you know that our rescue vans are just as important to our life-saving missions as our planes.
While our rescue planes cover long distances quickly during emergencies, our rescue vans drive through the night to get at-risk animals out of overcrowded shelters, helping us save more lives while reducing aviation costs.
Yes, the planes get a lot of the spotlight - but our vans are the muscle behind our increasing mission volume, frequency, and capacity to help our 100+ shelter partners.
In order to expand our reach - and quicken our response time to disasters that displace pets - we are currently hiring rescue van drivers in these locations:
- Greenville, SC
- Vero Beach, FL
- Dallas, TX
- New York / New Jersey
While all our pilots are volunteers, we do compensate our rescue van drivers $25/hour. Do you know any dependable, experienced drivers who love animals? If so, they could become a valuable member of our rescue team.
Here’s the application, if you - or someone you know - is interested in joining Pilots To The Rescue: https://bit.ly/RescueVanDriver
From the Side of a Highway to a Loving Home
Just 6 months old, Blaylock is a gentle Terrier/Pit Bull mix who can be a little shy when meeting new people.
It’s what you’d expect when you learn what he's been through: he was abandoned on a busy highway.
No, not on the side of the road. He was left in the highway median. Cars tore past on both sides, just feet away, the force of them shaking his tiny body.
Every blast of wind must have felt like it could knock him over. The noise alone was enough to terrify a grown dog. For a puppy, it’s unimaginable.
Blaylock waited there for hours - cars whizzing by, narrowly avoiding him - hoping his owner would eventually return.
But they never did.
On March 10th, volunteer pilot Stephen Nur and co-pawlet Ali Ahmed took to the skies to rescue Blaylock along with 31 other dogs and 13 cats, coordinating with seven shelter partners to turn a complex operation into a journey of hope. As you can see, it takes time for Blaylock to warm up to people, so getting him onboard Big Paw wasn't easy. But once he realized he was safe, he was sweet and loving to everyone he encountered. Blaylock's new family would have to be patient and understanding. Well, that’s exactly what he found. That’s right: Because of you (this rescue would not have been possible without your support), a dog who knew nothing but fear will now be showered with love, every single day.
Here's Blaylock and his new family in upstate New York!
At Pilots To The Rescue, we look beyond fear and uncertainty. We see the sweetness, the resilience, and the love that’s been there all along.
Thanks to your kindness and generosity, Blaylock's fear is melting away as we speak. He's learning to trust human beings again, and his new family is ready with endless patience, squeaky toys scattered across the floor, and a steady supply of his favorite turkey treats.
This is what your generosity makes paw-ssible.
Does Blaylock’s story fill your heart with joy? Ours too! That's why we do what we do, but we can't do it without you.
Any contribution - big or small - keeps our planes in the air and our vans on the road, so we can share more beautiful adoption stories with you, month after month.
Please donate if you can, because somewhere out there, there’s another Einstein, another Blaylock, waiting for a second chance.
Your gift is their lifeline.
Honoring A Promise
Lastly, we’d like to tell you about one more very special rescue that will forever remain in our hearts.
When we arrived in South Carolina, we weren’t just picking up a cat—we were entrusted with a promise.
Kit Kat's mom, a woman courageously battling terminal cancer, made the heartbreaking decision no pet owner ever wants to face.
Her only wish was that Kit Kat would be deeply loved.
What followed was an emotional goodbye none of us will ever forget.
Today, that promise lives on.
Though Kit Kat has left her side, he carries her love with him into this next chapter...a chapter filled with love, care, and the chance to be cherished all over again.
We are so grateful to have you be part of this special mission. You make it possible to honor promises like these. You turn heartbreak into hope.
