First Pilots N Paws mission

[simtech]

Today I flew two rescued Boxers from KSFT to KTVR. They were both 8 years old and have been house mates from puppyhood. The poor dogs were abandoned and were on tap to be put down. A boxer rescue organization got them, fixed them up, and found them a forever home in Houston, TX. Their journey started in North East TN. They were very sweet dogs and from the looks of it they liked to fly. Hamlet fell asleep in the very back and didn't wake up until the flight was over. Veronica (the white dog) loved to watch the world go by. After a while she fell asleep on my wife's lap. Truly sweet dogs and its a shame someone abandoned them. But that's a thing of the past. They are already settled in at their new home I'm told. Mission successful! Was a great day of flying, I don't normally fly during this week so this was a lot of fun. Mississippi to Louisiana and back all before work. I love it!

 

[gitmo234]

Awesome stuff and you got a good looking load there. Saturday I'm taking 3 on a flight north. My second mission.

 

[timwinters]

 

[eman1200]

Cute lil doggies. I am also doing a PnP flight on Saturday. I should post the dogs face pic from the PnP page, I don't see how anyone could say no to this adorable pup.

 

[LT4247]

No crate? We have flown many PNP rescues and they don't always lay down and sleep.

 

[Velocity173]

Man, those guys were out! My dog hates flying.

 

[Brad Z]

No crate? We have flown many PNP rescues and they don't always lay down and sleep.

We rarely use crates. Fit more dogs that way. Instead I bring along a helper just in case.

 

[Soldier64]

First and foremost, good work OP! Great feeling isn't it?

I've flown several missions and have yet to use a crate. I do bring a helper or two. I've had 12 dogs in my little airplane with no issue.

 

[Scotty78]

Again, this is great. I love seeing this. Well done!

 

[gitmo234]

I'll never understand abandoning a pet. I lived abroad for 9 years. The last place I lived was holland. I had pets. Guess who moved back home, internationally, when I moved and are still here with me now.

 

[simtech]

Yep I brought a helper. They couldn't find anybody to do the first two legs, so the did ground transport. I brought a crate with me to the airport but after listening how they did in the car, there was no reason to crate. My wife sat in the back incase the dogs needed anything and all was great. I will be doing more of these!

Those that are doing missions this weekend, post them up!

 

[BigBadLou]

Welcome to PnP and thank you for your help! The pups always appreciate it (I hope they showed it to you by licking your face excessively LOL).

We might fly the same pup one day!

 

[Ravioli]

Awesome. My dogs are always rescue Pomeranians, and I've done fostering, I wonder how many critters I can airlift in a RV-6?

What's the full link to PnP's info? I'd be interested to fly some missions in the DFW area.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

This is great! I've flown lots of Angel Flight missions but just recently signed up for Pilots N Paws, too... haven't yet flown a mission, but will be doing so soon. My middle daughter (2nd out of 3) is VERY into animals--worked at pet stores throughout high school an is now full time at a veterinary clinic. Abby wants to go do my first mission with me, so I'll have a helper.

Nice to see how it worked without a crate; I have a TR182, and (without removing the back seats) I could put a collapsible crate through the baggage door and erect it, but only for small-medium dogs. I do have cargo tie-down rings back there, and was thinking that plastic on the floor (to protect against accidents) followed by a big soft blanket might be good enough for the puppy(s), with a leash on and clipped into the tie-down ring. Assistant in the back seat that could reach over the back seat to help if the puppy(s) need it. Thoughts?

For those of you that have flown a lot of missions--what's your odds on having to deal with a smelly mess at altitude? Or do the pups do okay on holding it until the destination if given a good walk and opportunity to take care of business before departure?

I wonder if pups are affected by lower air pressure the same way we are--do they fall asleep above 12,000 feet? Do I need to stay lower than some critical altitude for their health reasons? My plane is unpressurized with a maximum operating altitude of FL200; we'd be on oxygen but the pups wouldn't have it.

Appreciate the input!

 

[AggieMike88]

I can tell you WAAAAYYYY to serious about flying when you have matching in-flight magazines in the seat pockets.

Great job on the Puppy Dawg flight!!

 

[AggieMike88]

For those of you that have flown a lot of missions--what's your odds on having to deal with a smelly mess at altitude? Or do the pups do okay on holding it until the destination if given a good walk and opportunity to take care of business before departure?

Worse I've ever had was release of gas.

I always insist on at least a 10 minute walk with me before loading to both encourage elimination and help the pup drain some energy. This also gives me a chance to evaluate energy and anxiety to know if they are okay with being in the backseat, or secured in the cargo area.

Longest PnP in the Skylane was 3.5 hrs Topeka to Denton. The English Setter had no problems holding it, but really had to go once we parked at the FBO.

Small dogs and puppies are always crated. Larger dogs I will secure to the seatbelts in the backseat if they are well behaved.

But then again, I do that with some pilots too.[/QUOTE]

 

[AggieMike88]

Awesome. My dogs are always rescue Pomeranians, and I've done fostering, I wonder how many critters I can airlift in a RV-6?

What's the full link to PnP's info? I'd be interested to fly some missions in the DFW area.

www.pilotsnpaws.org

 

[BigBadLou]

Mike is right on the money. Adult dogs have no problems holding it in if they are given a chance for a longer walk first.
Also, puppies (I mean the tiny fluffly messy kind) are best transported in a case/cage with some protection around to prevent a huge smelly mess.

Had a ghastly gas release at altitude once.

FWIW, you should limit your climbs and descents to maybe 500fpm to prevent ear pain for the pups. You can request that from ATC politely or you also have the option of using the compassion call sign with a rescue pup onboard. (google it)

Lots of good information on the PnP site: http://PilotsNPaws.org

 

[simtech]

Nice to see how it worked without a crate; I have a TR182, and (without removing the back seats) I could put a collapsible crate through the baggage door and erect it, but only for small-medium dogs. I do have cargo tie-down rings back there, and was thinking that plastic on the floor (to protect against accidents) followed by a big soft blanket might be good enough for the puppy(s), with a leash on and clipped into the tie-down ring. Assistant in the back seat that could reach over the back seat to help if the puppy(s) need it. Thoughts?

That is exactly how we did it. My wife sat in the back. I put the leash on the back dog around the cargo straps and back on to itself. The dog up with my wife was leashed to the seat belt but was still able to move around. I have a crate I can put in the baggage area for small dogs. I have to assemble it in the plane as well.

Do it, it is rewarding!

 

[simtech]

I can tell you WAAAAYYYY to serious about flying when you have matching in-flight magazines in the seat pockets.

Great job on the Puppy Dawg flight!!

HEHE yeah when I take passengers I even give them the whol speal in my best captain's voice welcoming them on the flight. I go as far as to say welcome aboard Harris flight 1978 with non stop service to xxx blah blah blah and let them know those magazines are complimentary..Nobody has taken them yet though.

 

[AggieMike88]

Troy; have you taken your Brittany's for a ride yet?

 

[murphey]

I wonder if pups are affected by lower air pressure the same way we are--do they fall asleep above 12,000 feet? Do I need to stay lower than some critical altitude for their health reasons? My plane is unpressurized with a maximum operating altitude of FL200; we'd be on oxygen but the pups wouldn't have it.

Appreciate the input!

How long would you let your daughter fly at 20K without O2? Treat the pups the same way.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Troy; have you taken your Brittany's for a ride yet?

Nope!

 

[timwinters]

I flew a 90# Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) from Walnut Ridge, AR to Jacksonville, IL yesterday. When I pick up a dog at the local shelter I can typically tell how it will fly by the time I get to the airport since it's a 1/2 hour drive. Every dog I've flown flies exactly how they drive, they don't know the difference, and don't care...

In this case though, I was picking the dog up elsewhere and couldn't evaluate on the trip to the airport.

No one was going with me so I really didn't want to take a chance with a dog that big so...

I took the backseat out (easy out and in) but my "hat rack" still kept me from getting a big crate in the back. The hat rack comes out easy but is a real PITA to get back in...So, I solved the problem thusly:
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I used zipties to attach the sides/back/top in the area of the cut-out. It worked great. It's not good for anything else anymore but I have more crates than dogs anyway...I know...that's hard to believe.

I thought someone else might be able to use this trick...

Here's "Delta" with her adoptive parents, she was nothing more than a huge hunk of love...and would've done fine flying...but I didn't know:

 

[mikea76]

I volunteer for a rescue and help setup their PnP transports and I just want to thank you and the other pilots here that donate their time and airplane to PnP transports.

 

[azure]

I did my last PnP mission last November. I've been trying to get one done this summer but I've had to back out twice, once because I came down with a virus, and last weekend because of my HSI failure. I just volunteered to fly a White Shepherd to his forever home next weekend; hopefully third time will be the charm.