Puppies Take Flight….

Everyone loves a good puppy story. Pilots love them even more if they involve flying. There is a special non-profit that suits the needs of puppies who need rescue and makes flying even more fun for their pilots. Pilots N Paws was founded by dog enthusiast Debi Boies and pilot Jon Wehreberg who was persuaded by Debi to help move a Doberman from Florida to South Carolina to save the animal’s life by flying to the rescue. Often times, flying dogs and other animals to other cities allows animal rescue groups and agencies to place the animals in shelters where they have a better chance of finding homes or to relieve overcrowded shelters.

On Saturday, February 16, 2013, five very special puppies lined up for their very first airplane ride from Kendall Tamiami Executive Airport in Southwest Miami to another general aviation airport in Tampa. As it turns out, only four pups made the trip, as one found a new home in Miami before he could even make it onto the plane.

Wings Over Miami Board Member and local attorney, Larry Ploucha was one of the pilots who volunteered to make the trip to Tampa.  Meeting up at Reliance Aviation with Miami Dade County Animal Services Chief of Operations and Enforcement, Kathy Labrada, to pick-up five beautiful little Labrador puppies, Larry and his friend loaded those little future pets into a plane for the ride for their lives.

Larry reported that the puppies traveled well and did not seem too unsettled by the flight. He stated that the puppies were a little antsy on take-off, but settled comfortably in their transport cages for the rest of the trip to Tampa.

To find out more about Pilots N Paws which was founded in 2008, or to volunteer, go to their website at www.pilotsnpaws.org.  Today the organization has 3,168 pilot volunteers and 10,551 other volunteers. The organization rescues and moves more than just dogs; they have moved cats, pigs, reptiles and rabbits. They are always willing to help look for a special pilot to be an animal’s special hero.

More photos are on the Wings Over Miami Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wingsovermiami.

For more insight into the trip: click here to go another article.