October 2026 Newsletter

We’re proud to share another major milestone that you helped make paw-ssible: more than 8,000 furry lives saved since we rescued our first litter of puppies abandoned in a ditch in 2015! Thank you...we truly couldn't have delivered so many second chances without you.

Happy Howl-ween: 10 Red Wolves Take Flight

’Tis the season for things that howl in the night. But this October, the most talked-about wolves in America were ten critically endangered red wolves that went on the ride of their lives with Pilots To The Rescue!

Turns out red wolves aren’t as terrifying as they sound. What IS frightening is how few are left. According to the Wolf Conservation Center, fewer than 21 American red wolves are left in the wild.

Thanks to YOU, we were able to honor one of our mission pillars: rescuing endangered wildlife, and say "YES" when our conservation partners called for help.

On October 13, Pilots To The Rescue teamed up with the Wolf Conservation Center in NY, and the Museum of Life and Science in NC for a “wolf swap” of 10 critically endangered red wolves.

This was no ordinary mission. Each year, the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) American Red Wolf program, a national effort involving more than 50 organizations, carefully plans movements to ensure every new family brings the species closer to recovery.

Meet Sabine who "carries herself like royalty"

Meet Mac Tíre, a “son of the land”

Leg #1: Three Wolves Head South

Pilots To The Rescue flew three red wolves from NY to NC. Among them were Sabine who "carries herself like royalty" and Mac Tíre. Mac means "son" in Irish and Tíre means "land" so he is a “son of the land,” which seems very fitting for this beautiful pair’s important role in red wolf conservation.

Leg #2: A Family Flies Home

Then came the precious cargo for the return flight: first-time parents Carolina and Jacques, and their five precious pups, born just this past May.

Talk about the cutest pack of trick-o’-treaters ever to board our rescue plane!

The pups are named Champ, Puck, Cane, Stormy, and Whaler in honor of the Carolina Hurricanes' 2026 Stanley Cup championship.

Their new home gives the pups more room to grow, and someday, they may get the chance to run free in the wild where they belong.

"We’re so excited to work with Pilots to the Rescue again. They have become a pivotal part of our work, helping us safely transport Red Wolves and connect them with facilities where they can play an important role in the future of their species. When we fly with them, the animals’ well-being is always the top priority, as they deserve. With fewer than 21 Red Wolves left in the wild, every step we take toward recovery matters."

- Rebecca Bose, Curator at the Wolf Conservation Center.

Just under 300 red wolves are protected in conservation programs across the country. With so few left in the wild, every pup counts. Because of YOU, five more red wolf pups are writing the future of their species.

Help Our Fuel Gauge Climb!

Adding a second rescue plane will instantly double our flight capacity—enabling us to rescue twice as many dogs, cats, and endangered animals in need!

Every dollar you give today is matched, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000.

Match My Gift

From Nightmare To Sweet Dreams

Pilots To The Rescue recently flew a very special freedom flight we called The Nightmare Before Halloween. For 18 dogs and 23 cats in overcrowded North Carolina shelters, the real nightmare was running out of time. With every kennel full, they urgently needed a freedom flight to somewhere safe. Come with us on their journey!

10:00am - North Carolina: All paw-sengers aboard!

One by one, 23 cats and 18 dogs precious paw-ssengers were carefully loaded into our rescue plane. Tails wagged, whiskers twitched, and a few curious meows echoed through the cabin. Every crate held a furry life that, just days earlier, had no way out of their nightmare.

3:00pm - Pennsylvania: Cats land on their feet!

When our volunteer pilots peeked inside the cat crates, they couldn't help but laugh. Our plane looked like it was dressed for Halloween! Silky black cats curled up beside fluffy orange tabbies. It was like flying a pumpkin patch across three states!

Legend says a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck. We say that's nothing but superstition. In fact, our crew considered every cat on board a lucky charm.

Pumpkin

Salem

Ralph

Sadly, black cats are often overlooked at shelters. Thinking about adopting? This Halloween season, give a black cat a chance to cross YOUR path. We promise, the only thing they'll bring you is love.

All 23 cats were welcomed by our shelter partners in PA, who will keep them warm, safe, and healthy until they find their fur-ever homes. Just look at how nicely they're settling in. These 23 cats prove there are no tricks to a happy ending...just a little help from feline friends like YOU.

5:00pm - New Jersey: Wheels down for the pups.

As the sun began to set, our plane landed at our home airport in NJ. Our ground crew was ready and waiting to bring all 18 dogs to their new shelter partners, where their journeys toward loving families could begin.

Two shaking paw-ssengers on our Nightmare Before Halloween freedom flight absolutely stole our hearts. Puppies Pia and Pace survived a tragic hoarding case in which many others did not make it.

They beat odds no puppy should ever have to face. Now they deserve everything they missed out on: warm blankets, full bellies, gentle hands and a family to call their own.

Their nightmare is finally over. Their survival was just the beginning. Because of YOU, their sweetest dreams are about to come true!

Mama Brielle, Big Beasley, and Princess Briley each flew in their own crate. But the second Mama Brielle saw her babies on the tarmac, her whole body wagged with joy. She showered them with kisses, as if to say, “We made it!”

In just seven hours, YOU helped us fly 41 animals to safety.

That's the power of a single freedom flight... and the power of YOUR support.

Donate Today

Double the planes.

Double the missions.

Double the furry lives saved!

Make a one-time or monthly gift today to support freedom flights that give vulnerable animals a second chance.

Match My Gift

Your donation will be matched,
up to $250,000!

Meet Volunteer Pilot: Mike Nuzback

8 Rescue Missions Completed!

When Mike takes off on a Pilots To The Rescue mission, he brings more than just expert flight skills—he brings a lifelong devotion to animals and a relentless drive to save as many as possible.

Before taking to the skies full-time, Mike built a successful career as a NYC accountant.

Today, as an ATP-rated pilot flying for a Part 135 charter operator, he channels that same meticulous precision and steady professionalism into every Pilots To The Rescue mission.

Mike’s passion for animals started during his college days in Buffalo, when he and his roommates adopted a rescue dog and experienced the joy of giving a homeless pet a second chance.

Now, in the cockpit for Pilots To The Rescue, Mike turns that compassion into action flying at-risk animals from overcrowded shelters to safety.

Mike's most memorable paw-ssenger is a young puppy named Willow.

Exhausted and frightened from her long flight from TN to NJ, Willow still had hours of travel ahead of her—a freedom ride to a shelter in NY. Michael was worried about how she would handle the stress.

"As a pilot, you do your best to get these animals safely from one place to another, but sometimes you don’t know what their story will look like after you leave them."

Above: Willow frolicking with a fellow paw-ssenger after their freedom flight. Below: Willow being welcomed home by her fur-ever brothers!

That changed when Mike arrived home later that day and received a video of Willow. There she was, running through the grass along the Long Island Sound with the sun setting behind her.

Mike couldn't believe he was looking at the same puppy he'd held just hours earlier. Willow was no longer scared and unsure; she was joyful and care-free.

A few weeks later, Mike received another video. But this time, Willow was meeting her forever family.

"A second rescue plane will ensure that we never have to leave an animal like Willow behind.

And we can't do it without our supporters! I encourage everyone to take advantage of the match and donate today!"

When he isn’t in the cockpit, Mike enjoys playing a round of golf, tackling home projects, and spending quality time with his growing family.

It’s dedicated volunteers like Mike—in addition to incredible supporters like YOU—who make every flight, every rescue, and every second chance possible.

Thank you!