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45 lives, 1 flight, A Second Chance They Almost Didn’t Get
On a recent rescue mission, PTTR volunteer pilots Stephen and David flew from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Albany, New York, and Manchester, New Hampshire, transporting 41 cats and 24 dogs to safety. Every animal on board faced an uncertain future, and all the 15 dogs we rescued in Georgia were on the euthanasia lists due to overcrowding.
One of those dogs was Festus. He had been dumped on a dirt road in rural Heard County, Georgia. A good Samaritan took him in and cared for him until animal control had space to take him. Festus was among the animals whose lives were at risk simply because there was no room left in the shelter.
Through collaboration with our rescue partners at The Barker Project, Seuk’s Army, Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley, Darbster Kitty, Live and Let Live Farm and Sanctuary, Precious Pound Pups, and Ziva Dog Rescue, Festus and 44 other animals boarded our aircraft, Big Paw, and began their journey to freedom. What could have been the end of their stories instead became a new beginning, filled with safety, care, and hope.
Pilots To The Rescue was built on the belief that geography should never determine an animal’s fate. Missions like this were only possible because of the generosity of supporters who believed in this work. Together, we turned moments of heartbreak into hope, one life-saving flight at a time.
