Animal Rescue Flights (ARF) was founded in 2008 to achieve three goals: 1) Build a national group of pilots to assist in the transport of animals from high kill shelters to rescues from where they can be adopted, 2) Offer shelters and rescues a single point of contact to assist in their transport needs, and 3) Educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets to address the root of the animal overpopulation issue.
To accomplish these goals efficiently, Animal Rescue Flights utilizes certificated pilot planners to organize rescue missions and to correspond with the volunteer pilots and rescue groups separately. Doing so allowed the pilots to work with pilots who understand weather, icing, airport/runway conditions, TFRs, IMC, and other flight safety concerns. Locating transition airports with fuel and factoring in winds aloft are also part of the planning process.
On the shelter and rescue side, our planners make sure that each transported animal ia accompanied by a current health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian who certifies not only that the animal is healthy but is also able to be flown. Planners also ensure accuracy in animal weights and crate sizes, and outline the steps to prepare animals for transport beginning the day before the flight. A team of licensed veterinarians consult our planners whenever safety or health concerns develop.
This structure allows our pilots to focus exclusively on their flights while shelters and rescues are guided through the process from beginning to end by a single point of contact. In addition to these benefits, planners are able to coordinate with ground transporters, commercial and corporate air carriers, and even other aviation based rescue groups (we once called on a "code share" partner that owned a 1940s era DC-3 to transport a manatee).
We've received some great media coverage of our transports over the years. In each interview, we've stressed the importance of spaying and neutering to address the root of the animal overpopulation crisis. Many reporters were surprised by our final objective, "to dissolve Animal Rescue Flights when each animal born had a loving home".
A lot has changed since 2008
The past few years have been notable for the rapid growth of both state animal transport regulations as well as the number of independent rescue pilot groups. Both of these factors have had a significant impact on rescue efforts.
The increase in regulations vary state to state and greatly add complexity for shelters, rescues, and flight planners. For example, several states require transporters to hold state-issued kennel licenses while others require mandatory quarantine periods. Few pilots meet these requirements yet are seen as transporters by the state authorities.
The increase in independent pilot groups has inadvertantly created additional challenges for shelters and rescues. Requesters now have to solicit help from a list of small groups of pilots located within a region who have limited range. The lack of coordination among the groups makes transports over distances difficult to coordinate.
Where we are today
It has become more difficult than ever for us to plan a rescue flight even with over 700 pilots nationwide. Shelters and rescues eager to move animals are opting for "other pilot groups that do not require health certificates". This is a dangerous trend since the pilots participating in such transports, not the shelters or rescues, are held legally responsible by the states. Publicity has lead to pilots being fined.
Transporting animals without health certificates could have even more serious consequences. Parvo and other health issues can survive in aircraft interiors for extended periods, putting the lives of pilot's own pets at risk. Chemical cleaners and disinfectants can damage interiors. We have heard disturbing stories of humans becoming sickened from a "load-and-fly" transport of animals by groups that didn't require health certificates.
There are ethical issues as well. A 501(c)3 status allows an organization to solicit funding. Donors expect that most, if not all, of their contributions are going directly toward rescue efforts yet this isn't always the case. Not-for-profit groups are required by law to make their finances available to the public, and rescue organizations that serve themselves better than their cause deserve a careful and thorough review.
Forward Thinking: Addressing The Animal Overpopulation Crisis
The number of euthanized animals each year exceeds the number rescued by every transportation group combined by over 1000 times. All the sheltering, transporting, and adopting can't prevent tomorrow's animals from being euthanized, but you can help by joining Animal Rescue Flight in supporting and promoting spaying and neutering efforts.
It can cost $250 in aviation fuel for one plane to transport one animal. That same amount will cover the cost of several spay or neuter procedures in areas of the country where they are needed most.
Pilots can help save the lives of animals regardless of the weather by contributing the same amount as it would cost to pay for aviation fuel for a rescue flight. For shelters, consider the strain on the rescue groups when you ask for a transport that spans over 1000 miles. Are you absolutely sure there isn't a qualified person or family any closer?
EVERY rescue organization has a responsibility to address the issue of animal overpopulation by promoting and contributing to spaying and neutering. It's easy to accept thousands of donated dollars to put toward salaries and aviation fuel, but unless the root of the issue is addressed, the animal overpopulation crisis will only continue to worsen.
For 501(c)3 groups, what percentage of funds are applied directly to either animal care or transportation costs?
For 501(c)3 groups, what is being done to aid in or contribute to spaying and neutering?
Our goals going forward are to provide pilots, shelters, rescues, and transport organizations with the information they need for the safe and legal transportation of animals for adoption and to aggressively promote the benefits and importance of spaying and neutering to prevent tomorrow's animals from becoming today's rescues.
