Pilots N Paws a real lifesaver for dogs

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February 19, 2010

By CHRIS HARRIS, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Fri Feb 19, 2010, 07:59 PM EST

Somerset — Have you ever seen a dog fly? Had you visited J.T. Wilson Field on Friday afternoon, you could have done just that.

Members of the local Have a Heart Animal Rescue organization arrived at the airport adjacent to Somerset Community College to send off their furry friends — Petey, a strong-bodied Australian Shepherd, and Seth, a poodle-King Charles mix with only one eye.

The two dogs were being flown to their new owners — and Somerset was only one more stop on an already long journey for these canine companions.

“We are providing transport to and from the Somerset area for homeless dogs,” said Kim Altenhofen, who, along with Ellie Grant, was present on behalf of Have a Heart Animal Rescue.

Petey was at an animal shelter in Mississippi, where he was in danger of being euthanized. He’ll be going to Blue Healer Dog Rescue, an operation in Lebanon, Conn., that found out about Petey online.

“We use Petfinder.com, a national service,” said Altenhofen. Dogs and other pets in need of a home are listed on the Web site, and parties interested in claiming the animals can get in contact with the shelter easily over the ‘Net.

“Somebody saw (Petey) and contacted us,” she added, “and after a long process, he’s got a home.”

Seth, meanwhile, is missing his right eye, apparently having been born in that condition. He was found here in Somerset hovering near a garage on (appropriately enough) Dogwood Trail.

He’ll be crossing paths with Petey, since Seth is headed down to Mississippi — Hattiesburg, in fact, home of the University of Southern Mississippi. Seth has been adopted by a loving new owner, and is in good health after having been checked out by a pet doctor.

“Most of these dogs are not throwaway dogs,” said Altenhofen of the animals her organization tries to rescue. “They can make very good pets.”

Petey and Seth are traveling in style, courtesy of Pilots N Paws. Jerry Carter flew his RV-7 plane — which he built himself — into Somerset to make a pup pick-up.

Pilots N Paws is a key source for those who fly planes and want to help transport animals in need. Carter explained that Pilots N Paws puts air jockeys in contact with those involved in animal rescue efforts.

“I volunteer to use my airplane and fly the dog wherever,” said Carter. “All you do is sign up on the Web site. There are no membership fees, and you don’t have to be part of an organization. Anyone can go to the Web site. If you have animal that needs to be transported, get on there, and they will connect them.

“We love to fly,” he added, “and this gives us something to do.”

As much as they might like to, the dogs won’t be hanging out the windows of the plane with their tongues hanging out — they will be in regulation containers, the kind they’d travel in on any airplane.

Altenhofen said this is the first time Have a Heart has used Pilots N Paws to transport the animals they rescue, but looks forward to doing so again in the future.

“There are so many dogs in the U.S. and especially here in Kentucky that are homeless,” she said. “They have nowhere to go, they’ll be dumped in shelters, and will most likely be euthanized. If we can save one, than we’re doing a good deed for some poor soul that could use a good home.”

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