Pilots to the Rescue News - August 2024
August was a challenging month for PTTR. With our planes undergoing expensive maintenance, we relied on our loyal community more than ever before. Thanks to your support, PTTR was able to coordinate two emergency ground missions to North Carolina, saving 17 beautiful souls from euthanasia.
In this month’s newsletter, you can meet some of the dogs we rescued in August along with two more dogs we helped rescue in July, both of whom were minutes away from being euthanized before PTTR swooped in. You can also learn a few tips for teaching your adopted dog how to be less aggressive during playtime!
Thank you for your support in making these missions possible!
Six Lucky Pups from SC Ready for Adoption in NJ
On August 23rd, our INCREDIBLE driver Albert Picewicz set out on a multi-day collaborative mission with Saint Frances Animal Center. First, he drove down to Dunn, North Carolina, to pick up four male dogs and twofemales. With his furry cargo in tow, Albert then drove more than 530 miles back up North to our home base of Essex County Airport, New Jersey passing through four U.S. states on the way. It was here where the dogs were received by our longtime partners at Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, New Jersey.
Two Hounds Saved from Euthanasia in NC
In July, PTTR harnessed our vast aviation network to help coordinate a rescue of two hound mixes who were scheduled to be euthanized at Duplin County Animal Services in Kenansville, North Carolina. Volunteer pilot Michael Britvan first picked up the dogs - named Udelia and Old Man - with his own plane in Wilmington, North Carolina saving the dogs from being euthanized. Then, Michael flew the two dogs to New Smyrna Beach, which is just South of Daytona Beach, Florida. Finally, Michael drove Udelia and Old Man to Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, where the dogs were received by Big Dog Ranch Rescue. First founded in 2008, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest cage-free, no-kill animal shelter in the United States.
Volunteer Spotlight: Suzanne Roman
This month, we’re spotlighting Suzanne Roman who currently serves as the director of Saint Frances Animal Center in Georgetown, South Carolina. With more than 20 years of animal rescue experience under her belt, Suzanne focuses on finding space and transportation for homeless dogs and cats. It’s her responsibility to make sure that every animal that enters Saint Frances Animal Center is given the highest possible likelihood of adoption. Thanks to Suzanne’s efforts, countless animals have received the medical treatment, training, and promotional support they need to be adopted by loving families.
Though Suzanne has recently retired from full-time work, she continues to play a central role in day-to-day operations at Saint Frances Animal Center. Saving lives is in her blood, so she believes that she will always be involved in animal rescue in some capacity, regardless of her age. Prior to her work with Saint Frances, Suzanne thrived as the director of another prominent animal shelter in the Northeast for many years. When she’s not rescuing homeless pets from euthanasia, she enjoys relaxing in the company of her beloved Flame Point Siamese Cats, all of whom have been rescued from local shelters.
Adoption Tip of the Month
It’s very common for dogs to get a little too aggressive when they’re playing with their human friends. Examples of aggressive behavior include biting, nipping, barking, or scratching. It’s your job to teach your dog that this behavior won’t be tolerated and give them other ways to get the stimulation they're looking for.
Before discussing these techniques, it’s important to note that aggressive behavior often stems from pent up energy or boredom. So, rule number one in curbing aggression is making sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. If you walk your dog regularly and they still get too aggressive during playtime, you can try what's known as the "toy substitute" method.
When your dog starts to nip or bite, encourage them to play with a toy they can chew on instead of your hands, arms, and legs. Try to keep your hands away from your dog’s mouth and on the toy only. You can pull back a little, but always let your dog win so they feel encouraged and want to play with the toy more.
If your dog continues to display aggressive behavior, say “NO!” In a firm voice. To make sure your dog knows you are unhappy, walk away and ignore your dog until they calm down. When your dog displays gentle behavior, it’s time for some good old positive reinforcement. This will encourage your dog to repeat this behavior again and again.
PTTR Needs YOU to Support Our Cause
Summer is the busiest time of the year for animal shelters. This is when they receive the most animals so they must use all the resources they have to manage the surge in intakes. That means space is filling up, forcing shelters to make extremely difficult - and often heartbreaking decisions.
PTTR exists to prevent this from happening. Our shelter partners are calling left and right, and we can only say “yes” with your support. When you contribute to PTTR, you put our next rescue in motion. This is the time of the year when more pets are at risk of being euthanized, and we intend to save as many of them as we can.
Do you want to make a real impact towards eradicating animal cruelty? If yes, then please help us put fuel in our cars and planes so we can take homeless pets away from danger and into the homes of loving families.
Remember: Even the smallest donation will help us continue relieving overcrowded shelters and sparing perfectly healthy pets from euthanasia.
