March was a pivotal moment for PTTR in 2024. After several months of maintenance, our main plane - Big Maw - finally made her return to the skies! With the help of multiple volunteer pilots and our loyal drivers, we rescued 42 dogs and 50 cats from being euthanized in Virginia and Florida.

Five of these rescue animals - including a sweet puppy pair named Ben and Jerry - are currently settling into their forever homes!

In this month’s newsletter, you can meet some of the dogs and cats we rescued in March along with their new families. You can also learn a few tips for teaching essential commands to your newly adopted dog!

Thank you for your support in making these missions possible! ?

Pictured here is the curious Clark, one of the 9 dogs PTTR rescued from homelessness in South Florida on March 3rd.

In a collaborative mission with Pet Orphans Miami and the Everglades Animal Coalition, PTTR Top Dog Michael Schneider picked up the dogs in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and flew back to Fairfield, New Jersey, where the dogs were received by Toby’s Dream Dog Rescue in West Haven, Connecticut. Accompanying Michael in the cockpit were co-pawlets Paul Mamaug and celebrated animal rescue influencer Brett Latimer.

We are delighted to report that Clark and his fellow paw-ssengers Maggie, Bailey, Ben and Jerry have been adopted! Pictured below are Ben (top) and Jerry (bottom) relaxing in the arms of their new families.

PTTR Saves a Clowder of Cats from the Wilderness of VA

On March 10, Michael and Paul took to the skies once again to rescue 17 homeless cats from our longtime partners at the Wise County Humane Society. After touching back down in New Jersey, the cats were received by the Wise County Humane Society’s rescue partner in the New England region. Joining Michael and Paul onboard was PTTR board member and future private pilot Kyle Kirschner. Pictured below are two paw-ssengers from this mission: Simon and his sibling, Stella.

Simon and Stella were originally found on the side of the road in a rural area. Since there were no houses nearby, the staff at the Wise County Humane Society concluded that Simon and Stella’s former owner had left the cats by a nearby river, hoping they’d be able to survive. Most of the other cats from this mission were surrendered to shelters by local residents who had been feeding them as strays.

Unfortunately, many cat owners in Wise County have taken advantage of other peoples’ kindness and abandoned cats near their homes, expecting that they will be fed and kept alive. ?‍⬛ ? This illustrates the tremendous importance of getting animals spayed and neutered. Cats reproduce so quickly that someone who takes in just a few stray cats could easily end up with dozens of kittens in their home. The Wise County Humane Society is currently in the process of helping numerous residents clear their homes of more than 40 cats. Just imagine how out of the control this situation would be in Wise County were it not for the hard work of these incredible volunteers.

This month, we'd like to shine some light on one of our newest volunteers, Brett Latimer. ? ?? A licensed pilot and lifelong animal lover, it was only a matter of time before Brett crossed paths with PTTR. Brett embarked on his aviation career after college, at which point he began honing his aviation skills behind the controls of a Piper Cherokee.

During this period, Brett also began going on rescue missions on behalf of Alabama Puppy Rescue. He eventually completed more than 15 rescue missions and relocated more than 100 dogs to larger shelters with more space and resources.

Now living in Virginia Beach, Brett currently works as an aerial survey pilot, capturing data of different environments via aerial photos for land surveying purposes.

He also regularly opens his home to rescue animals, sometimes fostering as many as 10 rescue dogs at a time.

In the coming years, Brett aims to participate in many more PTTR missions while continuing to use his massive Instagram platform to show his followers how many beautiful rescue dogs need loving homes!

Adoption Tip of the Month ?

You’ve just adopted a new dog and you’re ready to welcome your furry friend into your home. ? ? One of your first responsibilities as a new pet parent is teaching your dog a series of essential commands. This can be intimidating if you don’t know which commands to begin teaching first.

A great starting point is what's known as “marker words” like “good” or “yes.” Marker words are the things you say when your dog exhibits good behavior so you can communicate to your dog that what they are doing pleases you. A marker word can also be accompanied by a reward like petting or a treat. The more consistency you apply to marker words, the sooner your dog will understand what constitutes good behavior.

In addition to marker words, you should familiarize your new dog with the super-important “come.” It’s critical for your dog to understand this word so they can respond quickly in potentially dangerous situations.

Here’s an effective exercise for helping your dog understand the meaning of “come”:

1. Present a treat to your dog.

2. Step backward while saying their name followed by “come.”

3. Once your dog begins to move towards you, repeat a marker word with lots of enthusiasm and reward them with the treat.

Eventually, your dog will associate coming when called with positive outcomes.

How to Be Part of a PTTR Mission ?

Big Maw is finally back on her feet, and we want to keep it that way. That means covering the cost of fuel, which is only possible with YOUR help.

When you donate to PTTR, you put fuel in our planes and give us the power to save more innocent lives. ⛽ ? The amount of animals we rescue is a direct reflection of the strength of our loyal community.

Every contribution - no matter the size - could mean the difference between life and death for a homeless dog or cat. So, please consider donating to support our work.

If you’re unable to donate, there are several other ways you can participate in a PTTR mission:

1. Ground Crew: Do you want to greet our adorable paw-ssengers as soon as they land? Our shelters partners are always looking for extra hands to help them bring new arrivals to their facilities and ensure they are safe and sound. To participate in a PTTR mission as ground control, post your availability on the PTTR website.

2. Foster: Are you thinking of adopting one of our recent rescues but aren’t sure if you’re ready? That’s what fostering is for! By following PTTR on social media, you can see the animals we rescue on each mission and open your home to a new arrival at a nearby shelter.

3. Spread the Word: If you’re not able to donate or participate yourself, maybe you know someone who can. Sharing our social media posts for upcoming missions helps us reach more animal lovers who can further our cause. So, use your social network to grow our community and bring more attention to our life-saving work!

Connect with us!