The holidays are all about giving to those who are less fortunate. ⛄ That’s why PTTR decided to end 2023 by spreading hope and love to 50 cats who had been lost, returned or abandoned by their former owners. Making these life-saving missions possible was our dynamic duo of drivers - Albert and Adrian, who rescued the cats from overcrowded shelters in Virginia and North Carolina.

In our final newsletter of 2023, you can meet some of the paw-ssengers Albert and Adrian rescued this past month and get to know one of PTTR’s longest board members on a deeper level. You'll also learn a few helpful tips for choosing the right dog sitter for your newly adopted dog!

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

17 Cats from Down South Can Now Rest Easy in MA

Pictured here is one of the 17 cats rescued by our driver, Albert Picewicz on December 4th. Beginning in our home base of Essex County, New Jersey, Albert got behind the wheel of PTTR’s Paw-ty Van to pick up the cats in Southern Pines, North Carolina. With his purring paw-ssengers in tow, Albert then drove to Farmington, Connecticut, where the cats were received by the incredible staff at Cape Ann Animal Aid, which is based in Gloucester, Massachusetts. ?‍⬛ The cats were originally supplied by our longtime partners at It Takes A Village Rescue NC.

If you live in Northeastern Massachusetts and you’re in the position to open your home to a new pet, contact Cape Ann Animal Aid about fostering or adopting one of these precious souls, like this little member of Albert’s cargo ⤵⤵:

On December 19th, Albert joined forces with his longtime colleague and newly licensed pilot, Adrian Boksz, to embark on a multi-day collaborative mission with the Wise County Humane Society. The pair first drove to the Western tip of Virginia to pick up 33 cats and kittens. Albert and Adrian then drove back up to Essex County, New Jersey, where the cats were received by the Wise County Humane Society’s rescue partner in New England.? ?

The paw-ssengers for this rescue included a momma cat and her three newborn kittens. Since the new mom was experiencing health troubles after the birth, she was scheduled to be euthanized before the Wise County Humane Society and PTTR swooped in. We’re especially grateful for the efforts of Wise County Humane Society volunteer Michelle Delemarre, who met Albert and Adrian at Essex County Airport in New Jersey before driving the cats to their final destination.

This epic rescue also caught the attention of the Kingsport Times-News, which interviewed Adrian, Albert and Wise County Humane Society executive director Julia Winston about the importance of adopting vs shopping for animals!

Below, you can meet two members of Albert and Adrian’s precious cargo: Lucy and Stoney!

This month, we’re spotlighting Victor Girgenti, who contributes to PTTR as a board member as well as a volunteer Pilot. The proud papa of two dogs, Victor decided to get his pilot's license at the age of 50 so he could fly himself and his loving wife to their favorite East Coast destinations. ? ?

However, Victor soon discovered that owning a plane comes with a sense of responsibility to help those in need. Victor eventually began volunteering his aviation skills to different nonprofit organizations such as PALS (Patient Airlift Services), which flies children and adults requiring complex or emergency surgeries to renowned hospitals all over the U.S.

Given his growing reputation within the nonprofit aviation community, it was only a matter of time before Victor was introduced to PTTR Top Dog Michael Schneider. Victor has since piloted several PTTR rescues from the controls of his Eclipse 500 twin jet.

Most recently, he flew from Farmingdale, New York to Wilmington, North Carolina to save an adorable puppy named Athena from euthanasia (pictured here).

Victor had previously appeared on CBS News when he helped PTTR rescue 18 dogs from an overcrowded shelter in Texas in August of 2022. In the coming years, he intends to continue using his time and aviation resources to facilitate more PTTR missions, since he knows firsthand just how much joy a new dog can bring into a household. ?

Adoption Tip of the Month ?

The idea of leaving your furry friend alone with a stranger can be unnerving. But once you know what qualities to look for, finding the perfect dog sitter for you and your pet becomes much easier. First are the basics: Does the dog sitter exude an inherent love for pets? Do they seem like someone you can trust? And of course, does this person have significant dog sitting experience? A seasoned dog sitter will be able to bond with your dog almost instantly and put you and your dog’s nerves at ease.

Next, you’ll want to make sure the dog sitter has a reasonable schedule and isn’t spreading themselves too thin. A dog sitter who is already overloaded with clients probably isn’t going to be able 100% to your dog, so you’d better ask what their current workload is like.

Also, any qualified pet sitter will have a plan of action for sudden emergencies. What if your dog rungs away? What if your dog gets sick? These things happen, and it’s your dog sitter’s job to know who to call, where to go, and how to deal with a host of worst case scenarios. ? ?

With that in mind, more and more dog sitters sitters are covered by insurance these days. Some have even formed their own LLCs to show their professionalism. So, asking about insurance and what their policy covers is a great way to tell if a dog sitter is truly “the real deal.” After all, a seasoned dog sitter won’t be the least bit bothered by your concerns about emergencies and mishaps. They know things can happen beyond their control, which is why it’s undoubtedly worth their time to get insured.

Help Us Make 2024 Our Biggest Year To Date ? ?

As PTTR looks back on another record-breaking year, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for your continued support as well as the extraordinary efforts of our partners and volunteers. So, on behalf of the whole team at PTTR, we want to extend a heartfelt Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and most of all, a huge THANK YOU to anyone who has participated in this incredible journey and joined our cause. ? ?

Whether you’ve volunteered, adopted, donated, or simply shared our story, you’ve played a role in our life-saving work and our ongoing mission to eradicate animal cruelty across the United States. We’d also like to give a special shoutout anyone who ‘shopped for a cause’ this season at shop.pilotstotherescue.org.

Even though our fleet needed repairs from time to time, we still managed to exceed our original goal of saving 1,000 souls in 12 months. Now, just imagine how many more animals we could rescue if our plane didn't need these repairs because it was built to withstand the stress of continuous rescues. This is what we could do with the Cessna Caravan, which we fully intend to secure in 2024. But we need your support to help us get there.

If you can't donate, please consider starting a fundraiser on Instagram or Facebook, or simply share this message. Your voice has the power to lift us to new heights! ?Help us make 2024 the year where PTTR breaks new ground and saves thousands more lives throughout the year.

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