Cloud Nine Rescue Flights

For the first time in Cloud Nine’s 850 hours of flying over the past two years, saving the lives of 962 pets across North America and transporting veterinarians to remote areas, one of our aircraft has a major problem that has forced us to take it out of commission until it is repaired. Sugar Pop, Cloud Nine’s Cessna 310, is grounded and unable to fly rescue missions.

Two of the most vital instruments – the Attitude Indicator (AI) and Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) are broken. These are precision instruments that are required for safe and legal flight in instrument conditions (flying in clouds). Until we get these units replaced, we cannot fly Sugar Pop on any more missions. We have obtained quotes on several options, and need to raise $15,000 immediately in order to get Sugar Pop fixed and back in the air.

You may remember that Sugar Pop was generously donated to Cloud Nine almost exactly one year ago. An excellent plane in great condition, we have used Sugar Pop on 14 transports all over North America. It has excelled in our longer distance transports and transports of smaller pets, where it is a better aircraft for use than our Aztec. We have been routinely flying it on transports going from Texas to New Hampshire (saving the lives of over 130 dogs in 2011 alone). Sugar Pop hasn’t let us down yet. We urgently need your help to make sure we can continue using this tool to keep saving the lives of homeless animals.

This year, we’ve truly put the aircraft we have at our disposal to use. In the first half of 2011, we’ve transported 398 pets over 26 transports. By comparison, in 2010 we transported 434 pets over 32 transports. We are fully on track towards meeting our goal of 52 transports for 2011, and expect to come close to saving the lives of twice as many pets as we did last year! However, each plane we fly is best suited for the missions that it flies. There is not room for overlap, but due to capabilities and also due to scheduling constraints. Until Sugar Pop is repaired, the missions it flies cannot be flown, and those pets cannot be saved.

To date, we have raised approximately 60% of the $15,000 we need to replace these instruments. Until this aircraft can be repaired, we are unable to respond to the life-saving transports that we exist to serve. That means that the lives we save will not be saved, and these healthy, adoptable pets will die. Please don’t let that happen.

Cloud Nine strives to always be there when it counts, responding to both the constant need to transport pets from overpopulated areas to places where they will find loving homes, and also to emergency needs around the continent. In the past year, Sugar Pop has become an integral part of our capability to do this, and has proven its capability especially in immediate need and long-distance transports. Help us to continue this today with your donation. Make your donation now at: http://www.cloudninerescueflights.org/donate/

Ted DuPuis

Founder, President, Chief Pilot

Cloud Nine Rescue Flights

In the relatively short time that I spend with the animals, I always grow attached to them and sometimes find it hard to turn them over so it’s nice to see where my four legged friends are going. On the weekend of April 2^nd, I transported 17 dogs from Rutherford County North Carolina to Newport Rhode Island, and got the opportunity to visit the Potter League For Animals, which was their destination.

The shelter is located at the west end of the field so we had quite a large reception when we arrived. We were taken to lunch then on a tour of this top-notch facility. Upon arrival, each animal goes thru a period of quarantine. Contrary to how this may sound, it’s actually part of the socialization process to help the animals adjust to their new environment from the stressful situations they were taken from. The quarantine rooms have plexiglass walls that give a roomy feel, and they have ventilation systems. These are primarily for the cats that are typically susceptible to upper respiratory infections. After the quarantine period, they normally got to a training facility were they can take obedience classes. This makes these already cute and adoptable animals more adjusted to the new lives they are about to take on.

The adoption process is simple and organized. There is a list of would be adopters which at this time tops six hundred names. When the animals are ready, which is usually after a period of a few days after they are taken in, people from the list are able to come in and choose their pets. The ones that are not selected after a week are posted on the Internet for public adoption and they are held until they find a match. It’s no surprise that the vast majority of these animals are taken within a few days into loving homes where they get live out the rest of their lives.

With so much emphasis on the abominable and abusive conditions that these animals are rescued from, there is little known about the quality facilities that work with and transport them to on almost a weekly basis. It is very nice and refreshing to see the positive end of these transports.

Chicken and waffles,

Danos