Cloud Nine Rescue Flights

One of the things I’ve tried to do with Cloud Nine is establish some reliable groups to partner with that help make for consistently good transports. It helps to have groups who understand how the transports work and what our capabilities are, and are easy to work with. Encore Pets in Beaufort, NC has rapidly become one of our favorite groups to work with. They have a well thought out structure that they apply to transports, going so far as to schedule them out well in advance.

This transport also marks the thrid that was possible thanks to a grant from the ASPCA. After the transports we had in January and earlier in March, there was still some funding remaining, which was used to fund part of this transport.

I flew down on Friday night and was greeted by the wonderful group from Encore Pets and Cartaret County Humane Society. Joanna Shertzer, one of the founders of Encore Pets, and I had a good discussion about how our respective groups were doing, and long term plans for where we saw our groups both individually and working together going. It was a good discussion, along with great company and food to match. Thank you to everyone for providing such a warm welcome!

Saturday morning we got to the airport at 9 AM as usual, and got the dogs loaded up. While 9 dogs seems like a small number, Encore Pets tends to send larger dogs that take up more space, so it ended up being a good fit in this case. The high numbers that we have for some of our transports tend to be with lots of small dogs and/or puppies, each of which takes up a small amount of space.  Since the same amount of space exists regardless of the size of the dogs, we have to adjust accordingly.

The weather cooperated very nicely, making this trip up north was an easy one, especially compared to the previous weekend. We had beautiful weather, it was a great day to fly. The dogs were great passengers as well. We got our first passengers dropped off with Pets Alive in Orange County, NY, and then on to Syracuse to drop off the remaining few, then headed back home for an easy and successful trip.

This marked our third transport with Encore Pets. I can’t say enough good things about their operation, and am proud to be working with them on transporting animals out of Cartaret County and up north. With their hard work and transport programs, they’ve managed to virtually eliminate animal euthanasia due to overpopulation in their area, which allows them to branch out and help surrounding communities which are still high-kill. This is a testatment to their hard work, and is very positive for animal welfare in their area. Getting more individual areas with animal populations under control makes it possible for them to expand and help surrounding areas, thus saving more animals and working to bring an end to the animal overpopulation epidemic in this country. We have additional transports scheduled with Encore Pets throughout the year, and I’m looking forward to being a part of them!

Thanks to Encore Pets and Cartaret County Humane Society for their hard work in making this transport a success. Also a big thanks to the ASPCA for the third transport that their grant contributed to. Without their help, these three transports would not have been possible. I am hoping that Cloud Nine will be able to partner with the ASPCA more in the future to help save the lives of more animals!

Blue Skies,

-Ted

This was another successful transport from Animal Adoption League in Rock Hill, SC transported up to Animal Care Sanctuary in East Smithfield, PA and Manchester Animal Shelter in Manchester, NH. Kylie Troy from AAL had a need to get 13 dogs to Manchester Animal Shelter, and another 3 to Animal Care Sanctuary.

You may recall that in late 2009, Cloud Nine received a grant from the ASPCA. In January we had our first flight that was made possible from this grant. The grant was generous enough to cover more than one flight, and this is the second flight that was made possible by ASPCA. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks for their generous grant. Without it, these 16 dogs would not have been transported to safety.

February and March can make for interesting winter weather, especially in the northeast. The flight down to Rock Hill on Friday was easy, but the flight up north on Saturday was going to be more challenging. The weather and forecasts showed for strong winds out of the east around Philadelphia and New York City area with heavy precipitation. Up in Manchester, things were supposed to get better by the arrival time. We loaded up the dogs, and took off into the clear blue sky.

Just as predicted, by Philadelphia the weather starting worsening. A few deviations around the worst of it allowed us to keep a mostly straight line through the Philadelphia and New York City area, keeping for an efficient route. We even managed to get some good tailwinds for part of it! By Manchester, however, things had not improved as forecasted. After landing there, I decided that it was a better move to spend the night and return the next day. Adam Bezanson, a friend of mine up there and Cloud Nine Connection pilot, was kind enough to let me spend the night with him, and Manchester Animal Shelter held on to the three dogs going to Animal Care Sanctuary.

The next morning, Adam and I stopped by MAS to pick up the three dogs. They confessed they loved them so much they wanted to keep them, but these dogs were heading to another home. Sunday’s weather wasn’t great either, but it was an improvement over Saturday’s. I ended up flying back into my home base of Williamsport, PA, and ACS drove down to pick them up from Williamsport, as the airport they are based near would not have been accessible with its higher elevation and low clouds looming.

This transport was a good example of Cloud Nine’s capabilities. While most other aircraft were grounded on this day, we were able to comfortably and safely make the trip from Rock Hill to Manchester, and get the remaining three dogs to Pennsylvania the following day. I’d like to thank everyone who helped make this transport, including Animal Adoption League, Manchester Animal Shelter, Animal Care Sanctuary, and Adam Bezanson. I’d especially like to thank ASPCA for their generous grant that allowed this transport to be a reality!

Blue Skies,

-Ted

First I need to apologize for being so far behind on blog entries. I try not to get this far backlogged. March has been a busy month for all of us, but it’s important to sit down and write about our transports. We’ve still been working hard!

After an extremely busy January with 5 transports in one month including our longest yet (out to Utah and California and back), February was slower with one transport. I’ll talk more about that later. February is also the time of the annual Cloud Nine Board of Directors meeting. So, we thought it only made sense to combine the board meeting with a transport, especially since two of Cloud Nine’s board members live in the Carolinas anyway.

On Friday I headed to Philadelphia to pick up Beth Miller, one of Cloud Nine’s board members, and she and I flew down to Rock Hill where we had dinner with Jackie Kyles, another Cloud Nine board member and several other friends of ours. We had a good pre-discussion about what we’d go over in the board meeting, as well as general catching up. Saturday we had a successful board meeting, in which we discussed where we want Cloud Nine to go, and plans for the upcoming year. I’ll go over those a bit more towards the end.

Sunday morning was the transport day. We got to the Rock Hill airport. Kylie Troy of Animal Adoption League had gotten 19 dogs together for this transport, heading off to their forever homes. Whenever I get to the airport to load up this many animals, the question is always “How are we going to make them fit?” Most of the time people who look don’t believe that it will happen, but are then shocked when we comfortably get all the animals in their cages for the flight up north. With the plane properly outfitted, we can very efficiently load the animals in!

The flight up north was a good one that went without issues. I dropped off Beth back in Philadelphia on my way up to New Hampshire where I dropped off most of the animals, and then off to East Smithfield, PA (just a bit north of where I live) for the rest. It was a beautiful flying day, not a cloud in the sky. These animals were very well behaved, and made for an easy transport. After getting them all offloaded, I headed home, pleased with the results of the weekend. 19 lives saved, and a great meeting with other Cloud Nine board members.

I want to talk a bit about how Cloud Nine is structured, as well as our board meeting outcome. Cloud Nine currently has 7 volunteers besides me, including a board of directors and other volunteers. Right now I am the only person flying, and the Aztec is the only plane we fly. As we showed in January, the sorts of transports we perform are growing in size in distance in some cases. In either case, February and March had fewer transports than we would have wanted to perform due to my personal and business schedules getting in the way from what is, and I want to remain, a completely volunteer operation. This is where we need to expand with the purchase of a second aircraft, so that we can get a second pilot up and flying, doubling our capacity for transports. As I said in my last blog entry, we are looking at a $100,000 purchase cost for an aircraft, and then need the donations to keep both aircraft flying. February and March have been very low on donations, which currently threatens our ability to continue performing transports at the level that we have been, much less expand.

Please consider making a donation to help us keep our missions going and saving more lives! As it stands, we are currently unable to fulfill the missions we get requests for, and are consistently scheduled at least a full month in advance, more frequently a month and a half in advance. We need to be able to fulfill more immedate need transports, and not just the scheduled transports that are reserved months in advance. Even if you can only donate $50, over 50% of the total money that Cloud Nine receives comes from donations in the range of $100 or less. On average, each animal costs $130 to transport. Your donation makes a real difference in the lives of the animals we transport!

Blue Skies,

-Ted

He who believes he is too small to make a difference has never tried to sleep while a mosquito buzzes in his ear.  This proverb is a reminder to all of us of the power each of us has to make a profound difference in the lives of animals.  It’s also a reminder that even small actions can have big results.

As anyone who has ever tried to sleep while a dog or cat tries to wake you knows, pets instinctively understand the power of small acts.  They know that a simple wag of their tail can disarm a threat, that their presence alone can heal a person in need, and yes, that a simple wet nose kiss can wake a human no matter how desperately tired that human is!   The power of small acts is one of the most important lessons we can learn from animals.  Whether you volunteer time, money, or supplies to your local shelter, foster a cat or dog, or spread the word about the critical importance of spay and neuter, your actions matter for animals.

Your decision to volunteer as a dog walker at your local shelter could make all the difference for a dog that has never been taken on a walk before. The few cans of food you donate to a shelter may seem insignificant but for the dog and cat whose bellies are full from it, it’s an enormous gesture.  And the spare change you give to help an animal may seem like a drop in the bucket but when it’s added to a thousand other small donations, Cloud Nine can pay for another pet transport flight, a shelter can care for more animals, and more pets can find their forever homes.

And in case you still doubt the power of small acts, the stories of the Cloud Nine alumni below will convince you.  Every single one of these dogs was scheduled to die in an overcrowded shelter simply because there was no space for them.  Some of them had never known what it felt like to have a full belly, to be pet, to play, to see the sunshine, or to romp in the grass.  Some of them were so young when they ended up in the shelter that the only life they knew was the inside of that shelter.

Today, every one of these pets is not only alive but living in loving, permanent families because of small acts taken by regular people.  Some people donated food, some gave money, some gave space, and others gave their time.  As a result, the lives of these pets and the lives of their new families are forever changed for the better. Like the Cloud Nine alumni that came before them, these pets have already returned tenfold the kindness and love given to them from the small acts that changed their lives – small acts that literally gave them new lives.

After her Cloud Nine Rescue flight on January 23, Rayla lived with a foster family for two weeks and was adopted in February along with Montana. Rayla and Montana’s new family is loving, patient, and kind and these pups couldn’t be in a better home!  Rayla and Montana also have a 13-year old (human!) brother in their new family who absolutely loves them and is a constant companion to them both.  Rayla is a quiet and shy pup but she can take her time opening up in her new family.  They said they’ll “patiently wait for Rayla to open her heart and let us in.  She is so sweet and we all look at her longingly to take away her fears and to know she is in a safe, loving home.”

Rayla’s brother Montana is a big, goofy, lovable, playful bundle of energy!  Fortunately, Montana is also a good listener so he can channel all that energy productively – whew!  As soon as Montana arrived at his new home, he made himself at home immediately and he and Rayla bonded right away.  On their daily walks, Rayla and Montana walk right at each other’s side.  Rayla and Montana are so deserving of their amazing new family and of each other!  What a happy update for these pups!

Here’s Reverse the beagle pup with his new Mom!  A picture really does speak a thousand words – Reverse and his Mom look like they couldn’t be more thrilled to have found each other!  And, Reverse has a doggie sibling in his new home, too to keep him busy and teach him the doggy ropes!

Reverse is adorable!  It’s no wonder he found his forever family so soon after his rescue flight!  How could anyone resist those beagle eyes?!  He and his new family are going to have a great time together!

Buddy, another absolutely adorable Beagle pup also found a forever home since his rescue flight in January.  Not surprisingly, just like Reverse, Buddy only had to wait a few days for he and his new family to find each other!

Keebler the poodle, Rayla, Reverse, and Buddy were all on the January 23 rescue flight together.  They traveled all the way from South Carolina to Albany, NY and Manchester, NH to meet their new families and start their new lives.  Keebler found his forever family just a few days after his rescue flight!  He and his new human siblings are so lucky to be able to grow up together!  There’s nothing better than growing up with a great dog, and for Keebler, there’s nothing better than having a new family that loves him and that he’ll be a part of forever!

The January 23 rescue flight was a new start for lots of pups!  Besides the Cloud Nine alumni above, two German Shepherd pups on that flight, Reese and Bear, were adopted the same day they arrived in Manchester, NH!  They’ve been absolutely great since then!  They take walks together, got to play in the snow, and are very happy puppies!

Sprout also flew to his new life that day but he had to wait for his eye and ear infections to get better before he could be adopted.  Fortunately, Sprout healed quickly and only had to wait a few weeks before he went home to his new Mom and Dad and a brand new, happy and healthy start!

Finally, Arizona also left a bad situation and flew into a good one on January 23.  Her new foster family fell in love with her and decided to be her forever family.  Arizona is doing great and she’s also a superstar – she’s got quite a fan base on Facebook!  Here’s her link:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30671916&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=24095273780&aid=-1&id=1584796597