Pilots To The Rescue News - February 2025
With 2025 in full swing, Pilots To The Rescue is coming off an extremely active February. Over the past four weeks, we rescued 71 dogs and 33 cats, many of whom are currently settling into their fur-ever homes!
We also completed two rescue missions in honor of Seuk Kim, a beloved animal rescue pilot who tragically passed away last November while transporting homeless pets to safety.
In this month’s newsletter, you can meet some of the animals we rescued in February, along with their new families. You can also learn a few helpful tips for socializing your newly adopted dog!
Thank you for your support in making these missions possible!
10+ Animals Find New Homes After Huge Rescue
On February 1st, PTTR Pilot-in-Command Viking Thorsteinsson and co-pawlet Jason Oliver took to the skies to pick up 30 dogs and 5 cats from Saint Frances Animal Center in Georgetown, South Carolina and Pet Orphans Miami in Homestead, Florida. After retrieving the dogs in South Carolina, Viking and Jason flew back to PTTR’s home base of Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey. It was here where 27 of the animals were received by staff members from Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in Hanover, New Jersey, Happy Homes Animal Rescue in Old Bridge, New Jersey, Freedom First Rescue in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Eleventh Hour Rescue in Randolph, New Jersey. Lastly, PTTR Ground Operations Manager Albert Picewicz drove the remaining 8 dogs to White Plains, New York, where they were received by Toby’s Dream Rescue in Milford, Connecticut.
Given the size and complexity of this rescue, we are delighted to say that at least 10 of these animals have already been adopted!
PTTR Helps Preserve the Legacy of Seuk Kim
We were deeply honored to participate in this rescue because it was coordinated by Seuk’s Army, a network of volunteer pilots named in honor of fallen pilot and father of three, Seuk Kim. On November 24, 2024, the native of South Korea was killed in a plane crash during an animal rescue mission. The goal of Seuk's Army is to continue his selfless legacy of rescuing, rehoming, and rehabilitating animals in need.
In Seuk’s memory, PTTR volunteer pilots Jason Oliver, Bruno Brasiliero, and Maria Morgana picked up 17 dogs and 8 cats at Culpeper Regional Airport in Culpeper, Virginia from multiple Georgia-based shelters including Heard County Animal Control, Best Friends Humane Society in Worth County, Bibb County Animal Control and Columbus Animal Care and Control Center.
Next, the trio flew to Worcester County, Massachusetts, where the animals were received by Wings of Freedom Animal Rescue, Live and Let Live Farm in Chichester, New Hampshire, and A Second Chance for Ziva in Chatham, New Jersey.
We know Seuk would be very happy to learn that Bailey, a 2-year-old Chihuahua mix, found his fur-ever home just two days after this mission!
Meet Adelaide: Injured and Abandoned, She Never Lost Hope
You’ve never met a sweeter soul than 4-year-old Adelaide, who was originally found on the side of a road, nursing a severely injured leg in her home state of Texas. Thankfully, a kind-hearted volunteer brought Adelaide to local animal rescue service Dallas Pets Alive!. A subsequent medical examination determined that her leg could not be saved, and had to be amputated. Despite all of this pain and suffering, Adelaide has managed to maintain her gentle, friendly spirit.
On February 25, PTTR Pilot-in-Command Paul Mamauag and Co-Pawlet Mackenzie Brendlen touched down at Nashville International Airport to pick up Adelaide along with 11 other dogs from Dallas Pets Alive!. With their furry cargo in tow, Paul and Mackenzie then flew to Northeast Philadelphia Airport. These precious pups are now waiting to start new lives at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, New Jersey. Do you know someone who could give Adelaide her fur-ever home? She may have just three legs, but a lifetime’s worth of unconditional love to give her lucky owner!
Adoption Tip of the Month
Many pet parents have thought to themselves, “Why is my dog so calm around me, but not other people?”. It’s probably because your dog trusts and respects you, but they haven’t built that relationship with other people, and/or other dogs. In other words, your dog could use a little more socialization, and there are several very easy and fun ways to make that happen.
One way is group walks, a.k.a. pack walks! Walking together helps dogs bond over the common goal of getting some fresh air and mild exercise. Any pent-up excitement in your dog now has an immediate outlet, reducing the likelihood of hyper-active behavior when you get back home.
Another option is daily pet sitting services. If you’re unable to walk your dog during the middle of the day (like lots of people), there are trusted pet care experts who come to your home and walk your dog.
Trust us when we say, the additional exercise and mental stimulation your dog will receive from just one more walk in the afternoon can be an absolute game-changer. They’ll have less energy when you get home, and their heightened familiarity with their environment will make them less anxious, and more well-behaved.
Help Us Put More Dogs Like Adelaide in Loving Homes
Dogs like Adelaide are the reason we do what we do. Look at what she’s been though, and yet she radiates warmth, joy, and positivity everywhere she goes. We save homeless pets because once we bring them into our homes, it’s the pets who end up saving us. Adelaide is going to make somebody very happy, and there are more innocent souls like her waiting for their fur-ever homes, all over the country.
When you support PTTR, you help us take dogs like Adelaide out of overcrowded shelters, and into the arms of loving families. Every mission we complete puts more unconditional love in peoples’ homes. So, please help us fuel our next mission with a donation. If you don't have the means to do so, there are plenty of ways to contribute to our life-saving work, which you can find here. From the bottom of our hearts - and our paw-ssengers’ - thank YOU for your support, and for being a part of our journey as we enter our 10th year in business!
