Warning... holiday puns ahead! 🎁🌟

For this pawliday mission, dedicated volunteer pilots and honorary Christmas elves - Jordan and Jared - prepared for an after-work evening flight that did not exactly go as planned. Two pilots departed around 7:00pm from Leesburg, VA to pick up 20 of Santa's presents, instead of the original four pilots who had intended to accomplish the mission.

Undaunted by these setbacks, Jordan and Jared landed in Wiley Ford, WV around 8:30pm, ready to attempt to fit all 20 pups on one sleigh. Safety first, especially with air travel, and all 11 crates with 20 reindeer were meticulously arranged in the plane. More than an hour behind schedule, the Cardinal, two pilots, 8 dogs, 2 litters of puppies (and a partridge in a pear tree) set off into the darkness for the east coast! Landing after 10:00pm in Wilmington, DE, the dogs were greeted by two groups - Humane Society of Atlantic County and Greenmore Farm Animal Rescue - waiting for their arrival. ​

For the pilots however, the mission wasn't over until landing back at home base after midnight, only to wake up a few hours later and start their regular jobs. It was a true miracle, because just in time for the holidays, these pups will soon get to start happier lives with loving families!

We send the warmest Amelia Air thanks to all our friends involved in this mission, from flying to welcoming the pets so late on a weekday. Like so much of 2021, it did not go to plan - but we still made it work. Best wishes for the festive season, and see you in the new year!