A small airplane carrying thirty small dogs departed Scottsdale Airport this morning bound for Boise, Idaho. Its cargo, an assortment of small breed dogs, is being transported from HALO Animal Rescue in Phoenix, Arizona to All Valley Animal Rescue in Meridian, Idaho where they will be made available for adoption.
The flight was made possible by Dog Is My CoPilot, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving homeless dogs and cats by flying them to areas in the western United States where they are more adoptable. DIMC’s sole pilot, Dr. Peter Rork, donates his time, talent and airplane to facilitate the animal transfers. A typical DIMC flight is able to transport as many as 50 kenneled animals.
“When DIMC moves large groups of animals from an area where they are harder to adopt out and flies them to another area where they are in demand, the animals are quickly adopted by loving “furever” homes,” explains Judy Zimet, a Phoenix attorney who also serves as executive director of Dog Is My CoPilot. “A Chihuahua in Idaho gets adopted in a heartbeat, but that same Chihuahua in Phoenix is often harder to place in a new home,” says Zimet.
DIMC works with established nonprofit animal rescue organizations to coordinate flights in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific West regions. The transferring animal rescue determines which animals to send to the receiving animal rescue. The receiving rescue facilitates the animals’ adoption in its geographic area.
“Phoenix was hit hard by the economic downturn. Although the economy seems to be improving, we continue to see large numbers of stray and abandoned pets entering the Phoenix shelters, particularly Chihuahuas and pit bulls,” explains Heather Allen, HALO Animal Rescue president and CEO.
All Valley plans to make the transferred dogs available for adoption immediately.
“All Valley Animal Rescue receives mostly larger breed dogs, so we’re not usually able to help the families interested in adopting a small dog,” reports Jason Lee, President and marketing director for All Valley Animal Rescue.
“We’re very grateful to DIMC for their dedication to animal welfare. Not only are we saving more animals from euthanasia because of their program, we’re able to place homeless pets with loving families who really want them.”
About HALO Animal Rescue
HALO Animal Rescue is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) no-kill animal rescue dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and finding new homes for homeless dogs and cats. HALO, which stands for Helping Animals Live On, found new homes for more than 7,000 animals in 2013. For more information, visit www.halorescue.org.
About Dog Is My CoPilot
Dog Is My CoPilot is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to saving dogs and cats by flying them to areas where they are more adoptable. Too many animals have the misfortune of being in the wrong place and are euthanized because of it. People who find the pet they are looking for at the local shelter stay away from puppy mills, breeders, and online animal sellers. Learn more about Dog Is My CoPilot at www.dogcopilot.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DogIsMyCoPilotInc
About All Valley Animal Rescue
All Valley Animal Rescue is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit no-kill animal rescue located in Meridian, Idaho. All Valley takes in homeless animals, provides them medical treatment, care and refuge, and facilitates their adoption into forever homes. Thanks to the close relationship with All Valley Animal Care Center and the compassionate doctors there, All Valley Animal Rescue has been able to save many pets lives and place them in forever homes. For more information, visit www.allvalleyanimal.com.
