This video is a look back — at the lives saved, the friendships formed, and the heart behind every single flight. We poured so much love into it because this milestone belongs to all of us.
Every year, approximately 920,000 homeless pets are euthanized in the United States (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats), primarily due to a lack of space. Pilots To The Rescue coordinates with rescue and adoption facilities all over the U.S. to find space for dogs and cats who have been abandoned or returned to animal shelters by their previous owners. By transporting pets to available shelters by air, we put them in position to quickly find new homes and loving families.
Connor's Story: From Pain to Purpose
When our freedom flight touched down in New Hampshire, carrying 16 dogs and 9 cats from Georgia, every single animal on board had a story. But few brought tears to our eyes quite like Connor.
Not long before his freedom flight, Connor was a defenseless puppy whose life was nearly shattered in an instant when he was hit by a car.
The impact left him with a severely fractured leg, but the true weight of his ordeal was in the quiet agony that followed. In the days after the accident, Connor endured intense pain and swelling so overwhelming that he couldn't even bring himself to eat.
For a young pup who should have been running and playing, every tiny movement was excruciating. The sheer physical toll left him exhausted, hurting, and fighting just to get through each day.
Yet, even through the darkest hours of his recovery, Connor never lost his spirit. Slowly, as his leg began to mend, Connor’s sweet and resilient nature shone through. Before long, his tail was wagging again, revealing a playful, gentle soul with an undeniable will to live.
Today, Connor is fully healed, happy, and thriving! Best of all, his story has come full circle in the most heartwarming way.
Connor was recently adopted into a loving home where he has found his calling: providing comfort to a wonderful woman with mobility needs—and Connor knows all too well that both compassion and companionship can heal all wounds!
Together, we aren't just saving lives—we're making miracles like Connor’s possible, bringing unconditional love to families who need it most.
Moonpie Can Finally See Hope
Meet Moonpie, a 28lb Poodle mix who was suffering from a painful prison of tangled mats that pulled at every movement, hiding a dog longing for love.
When he was first rescued, Moonpie's continuously growing white curls were overgrown and thick with heavy mats—making him feel hot, itchy, and weighed down. The dense fur covered his face so completely that he was barely able to peek through.
Fortunately, a compassionate groomer stepped in to give him a much-needed makeover.
From underneath a mountain of fur, the sweetest boy emerged. Who knew that Moonpie had such an adorable button nose, sparkling eyes, and a bright smile!
Finally able to move around freely, a confident Moonpie was ready for his new life—and wore a stylish bowtie for the occasion!
He joined 30 other rescue dogs on an incredible 1,660-mile freedom ride from South Carolina to New Jersey, made possible through an incredible network of 8 animal welfare organizations.
From tangled and trapped to liberated and loved, Moonpie got his fresh new start—all thanks to supporters like you!
Right now, another dog is still hidden beneath painful mats, waiting for someone to see their worth. Will you give them the fresh start they deserve?
We hope it moves you as much as it moved us. If it does, please share it with your fellow animal lovers. Help us show the world what compassion can do with wings.
Thank you for believing in us, believing in them, and believing that love can truly go the distance.
π« Here’s to 10 years — and many more to come.
January 2025 was a very special month for Pilots To The Rescue: We rescued 62 homeless cats, 115 homeless dogs, and oh yeah... IT'S OUR 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!
We embarked on our first mission in 2015, and we've since flown more than 30,000 miles and saved more than 3,600 animals from euthanasia. And it's all because of YOU and your support. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for being the wind beneath our wings.
On that note, we are also happy to report that several animals we rescued in January have been adopted!
In this month’s newsletter, you can meet some of our paw-ssengers from this month, along with their new families. You can also learn a few new tips for keeping your adopted dog busy indoors.
Thank you for your support in making these missions possible!
PTTR Helps 5 Dogs Find New Homes in NJ
In our first rescue of 2025, PTTR Top Dog Michael Schneider took to the skies for a huge rescue of 23 dogs and 7 cats. Accompanying Michael in the cockpit were co-pawlet MacKenzie Brendlen and animal-loving social media content creator Freddie Luberto.
The trio first touched down in Georgetown, South Carolina, to pick up the animals from our trusted partners at Saint Frances Animal Center.
Thanks to the extraordinary promotional efforts of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, at least five of these dogs are currently settling into their fur-ever homes! Here are four lucky pups with their new families in the Garden State:
PTTR Rescues Dogs from Horrifying Animal Cruelty Case
Pictured here is Milky Way, one of the 13 dogs we rescued on January 15th.
It breaks our hearts to reveal that Milky Way was originally discovered in a massive animal cruelty case in Grady County, Oklahoma, in which hundreds of animals were found in a filthy residential property.
Multiple Pittbull ad Rottweiler mixes were chained outdoors in the blistering cold, nearly starved to death.
Following a raid from the Grady County Sheriff’s Office, Milky Way was put under the care of the Humane Society of the United States, which worked with PTTR to find available space for these poor pups.
PTTR's Ground Operations Manager, Albert Picewicz, first drove down to Maryland to retrieve Milky Way and his fellow paw-ssengers.
He then drove more than 500 miles back up north to Stratham, New Hampshire, where the pups were received by staff members of the New Hampshire SPCA.
As of now, two people have been arrested in relation to the animal cruelty case.
25 Dogs from SC Get a New Chance at Life in Philly
Ready for a cuteness overload? On January 26th, PTTR Pilot-in-Command Paul Mamauag got behind the controls of Big Paw for an urgent rescue of 25 dogs. Accompanied by co-pawlet MacKenzie Brendlen, Paul flew to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to pick up the dogs - which included two litters of newborn puppies - from the Hilton Head Humane Association.
With their furry cargo in tow, the pair then flew more than 700 miles up north to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Waiting to greet Paul and MacKenzie were volunteers from our longtime partners at Rylie’s Rescue.
Below, you can meet just a few adorable paw-ssengers from this mission: Yogi, Campbell, Twinkle, Mitchum, Marty, and Sebastian!
AdoptionTipof theMonth
While some dogs prefer to relax and lay down indoors, others require a little more mental stimulation. One of the most popular ways to keep dogs busy indoors is treat-dispensing toys, which are designed to keep dogs engaged for hours on end.
Here’s a few tricks for making this game last even longer.
Put your dog’s next meal in a treat dispensing toy - such as a stuffed KONG toy - and seal it with a tasty filler, like peanut butter, canned pumpkin, or yogurt. This will make them work a little harder (and get plenty of mental stimulation) as they get closer and closer to their breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Want to buy yourself some additional quiet time? Hide your treat-dispensing toy and let your pup try to find it.
You can even FREEZE your treat-dispensing toy after you fill it, which means your dog has to stay engaged with the toy until their treat thaws.
These activities allow your dog to build some serious brain power while you relax at home.
We're Not Slowing Down: Are You With Us?
We’re just one month into 2025, and we’ve already saved more than 175 souls! Imagine how many more we’ll save if we maintain this momentum throughout the entire year. At this rate, we’ll not only meet our goal of saving 2,500 souls, we’ll breeze past it.
The only contingency is the loyalty of our community.
Your support has gotten us to this point, and we couldn't be more grateful. Now, we want to soar even higher and take a big bite out of animal cruelty. Together, we can keep 150+ homeless dogs and cats out of danger each month.
To help us make this happen and become a vital part of a truly wonderful cause, visit pilotstotherescue.org/support.
Every contribution - no matter how small - helps us save more innocent animals from euthanasia.
Waiting to greet Paul and MacKenzie were volunteers from our longtime partners at 
