Rescuing in the era of Covid!

A lot has changed since we last did a rescue flight for Amelia Air, thanks to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic and associated quarantines! After several months of remaining mostly quarantined to improve the safety of our households, we decided to venture out and respond to the call for help with a rescue flight of 14 dogs! Because our co-founder Dean couldn’t get in a plane with other pilots, he flew solo the entire trip which worked out because he needed room on the co-pilot’s seat to fit the last crate of 4 puppies.

By the numbers: 6 hours of flying solo, some weather and IFR conditions along the route of flight, 14 dogs picked up from Wilson NC, 12 delivered to fosters through their rescue in South NJ and 2 more flown up to Groton CT.

As always, the stories of these animals are heartbreaking ranging from voluntary surrenders, animals taken from abusive homes and dogs found running wild or worst - tied up to a tree and abandoned. We are fortunate to help some of these animals move from bad situations up to rescue groups where they all get wonderful new lives with families that have been approved as appropriate and caring households!

The darling 4 puppies above were found abandoned with their mama, and taken back to the shelter to be cared for by a veterinarian, fed and mere days later - transported to NJ for a new life!

A couple dogs from our 14-dog rescue flight loading up into the plane for their freedom flight to New Jersey

After arriving in Wilson NC, the sight of a variety of beautiful, happy, excited, loving dogs is always rewarding! Tara shown above was a real lover (not a fighter)!

Freedom for a pair of Chihuahuas from NC delivered happily to New Jersey to their new homes

And we come to the “end” of the story for these beautiful animals - embarking on a new life after being dropped off in New Jersey and Connecticut at their rescue homes before being adopted. All of these little guys will be adopted in no time, and over the months and years - we’d love to hear/see more about their progress in new homes as we’ve seen from previous rescue flights!

Thank you so much for supporting our cause, either by donating, by spreading the word, by adopting or fostering these animals, by promoting spay/neuter programs or just being a caring human about the plight of animals left behind.