Welcome to Wings of Rescue
Wings of Rescue is a donation-supported 501(c)3 public charity that flies abandoned, homeless and at-risk pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster areas to shelters with available space without displacing any locally sheltered pets. The result is that great pets in need of loving homes are brought to welcoming locations where families are eagerly waiting to adopt them. At Wings of Rescue we strive to transport pets to their new homes safely, quickly and with as little stress as possible.
In times of natural disaster we often use our in-bound planes to deliver humanitarian and veterinarian aid, pet supplies and shelter materials, thereby making the most efficient use of each of our flights.
From our unique perspective traveling across North America we know that spay-and-neuter programs are key to reducing the number of unwanted pets flooding municipal shelters. For this reason we sponsor spay/neuter programs to make a difference.
Our core philosophies are that all pets deserve a healthy and loving home and that responsible pet ownership enriches lives and builds stronger and more compassionate communities.
We don’t always have a rainbow to send off our flights, but we do always have a pot of gold at the end
of each mission as our precious cargo of pets reaches their new homes and the hope of better lives ahead.
As wildfires ravaged Canada and Hurricane season began in the United States, Wings of Rescue has already responded in meaningful ways to save pets, and is working closely with both national and international rescue groups and disaster-responce agencies to help where we can and when we can. One of our first efforts was partnering with Veterinarians Without Borders Canada to rescue pets needing evacuation from the town of Yellowknife, the capitol of The Great Northern Territories. Then just a week later, we were in the air with two flights responding to Hurricane Idalia, sponsored by Petco Love and Bobs by Skechers.
Between our two flights, we were able to empty out a number of shelters so they could focus on the desperate need created by the storms as lost and injured pets jammed local facilities.
Pilots Kale and Anji getting ready to take off from Jacksonville,Florida with a planeload of pets in the wake of Hurricane Idalia.
We are standing by at the ready for what is predicted to be a severe hurricane season. With planes, pilots and personnel stationed around the country, we can be in the air on a moment’s notice and headed out to save pets.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
Beginning immediately, for every pet that Wings of Rescue transports, we will provide funds to spay or neuter another one.
Operation Pit Stop is Making a Difference.
Look for Events Soon in Louisiana and Texas!
Here’s a public-service video about Operation Pit Stop from NHL hockey superstar Victor Hedman, who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning and who believes in properly spaying or neutering your pets. Thanks Victor, and we look forward to seeing your hot moves out there on the ice!
OVER 1,800 BULLY BREED DOGS HAVE BEEN ALTERED!
These pictures from the Operation Pit Stop just completed in Tulsa, are just an indication of the incredible vets, shelter staff and volunteers that make Operation Pit Stop such a success. Our thanks go out to every one at our shelter partners who put in the extra time and effort to do these surgeries and make a huge dent in the dog overpopulation problem.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS
Because pit bulls have such large litters (sometimes up to 12 puppies), and because they are a difficult breed to adopt out, thousands of pit bull puppies and adults are euthanized in shelters each year, and many languish in cages, unwanted and unloved. We want to stop that tradegy and eliminate unplanned and unwanted puppies from ever happening in the first place.
So if you are a pit bull owner, we encourage you to do the kind thing for the breed you love, and get your dog spayed or neutered. We’ll even do it for free, and provide updated vaccinations, too, based on location and availability. Plus, all participants will receive free dog food courtesy of Chewy.
We are working closely with local shelters to make it easy for bull-breed owners to take advantage of these free services. Check back soon for more information and links to your local provider if they aren’t here already!
Save the Dates and Come Back Soon for More Information!
TAMPA BAY AREA
July 15 - August 31
COMING SOON TO LOUISIANA!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN August 1-September 15
Starting November 1, Operation Pit Stop will be coming to four parishes in Louisiana: Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Jefferson and St. Tammany. Check back here soon for registration information and links for how to sign up. We look forward to seeing you and your bully-breed dog there, and thank you for spreading the word to others.
We know pit bull owners love their pets. And sometimes that love leads to a decision to breed those pets or to leave males “intact” and females vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies. Doing this isn’t showing love for your pet, it’s putting each puppy at risk for a hard life. Many of the pit bulls that show up at local shelters started out being wanted and the result of good intentions. But invariably it is difficult to find homes for pit bull puppies and many people who agree to take them end up surrendering them later. Regardless of how they end up in a shelter, once they do, life is very uncertain and many end up euthanized.
Here's a Great Chart from Our Friends at
IndyHumane on Why It Is a Good Idea
to Spay or Neuter ALL Pets!
Do the Right Thing and Alter Your Pet!
Our Merchandise Store is Now Open
Show your support for Wings of Rescue and help us save more pets. We have been adding new items frequently, so check back often! We appreciate your support.
Where We're Going and Where We've Been in 2023
Arrivals
19 September Merced – Tacoma – Spokane 49 dogs
16 September Hammond – Georgetown – Coatesville 40 dogs, 45 cats
14 September. Ontario Calfiornia – Madison Wisconsin – 20 dogs
2 September Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 64 dogs, 45 cats
1 September Jacksonville – Georgetown, 17 dogs, 43 cats
31 August – Tampa – Brandywine Pennsylvania – 19 dogs – 51 cats
21 August – Yellowknife Northwest Territory – Hay River Northwest Territory – Calgary – Vancouver 3 dogs, 12 cats 2 snakes! 1,000 pounds humanitarian aid delivered
5 August Hammond – Coatesville – Porland Maine 48 dogs, 47 cats
22 July Hammond – New Castle – Portland Maine – 55 dogs, 63 cats
11 July – Guantanamo Bay – Exuma – Fort Pierce – Manassas – Providence – 18 cats
8 July Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 57 dogs, 68 cats
26 June – Vero Beach – Freeport – Fort Pierce – 2 dogs
24 June Hammond – Salisbury Maryland 94 dogs 40 cats
17 June Vacaville California – Great Falls Montana 30 dogs
10 June – Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 61 dogs, 48 cats
3 June – San Juan – Tampa – Hagerstown – Bedford, Massachusetts 16 dogs, 20 cats, 23 hedgehogs, 6 rats
1 June – Fort Worth – Arlington Washington 6 dogs, 38 cats
27 May – Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 67 dogs, 61 cats
21 May San Juan – Morristown 34 dogs, 26 cats
13 May Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 75 dogs, 63 cats
29 April Merced – Everet – Omak – Spokane 27 dogs, 110 cats
28 April (Phuket) – Manassas – Chicago Soi Dog Foundation flight 6 dogs
26 April -Nassau – Freeport – Fort Pierce – Portland Maine 11 dogs, 104 cats
21 Aoril Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 65 dogs, 48 cats
1 April Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 67 dogs, 58 cats
18 March – Hammond – Coatesville – Portland, Maine 74 dogs, 28 cats
16 March – Merced – Everett 23 dogs, 32 cats
4 March Hammond — Coatesville 93 dogs, 34 cats
22 February Freeport – Fort Pierce – Gainesville – Portland Maine 14 dogs, 49 cats
20 February Jackson Mississippi – Hagarstown – Norwood Massachusetts, 2 dogs, 77 cats
18 February – San Juan – Morristown 33 dogs, 2 cats
18 February – Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 89 dogs, 64 cats
15 February Dominica – Tampa 39 dogs, 4 cats
10 February Bakersfield – Calgary 33 dogs
5 February – Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine 77 dogs, 51 cats
21 January – Olive Branch – Spokane – Bend 42 cats
21 January Hammond – Coatesville 57 dogs, 48 cats
12 January 2023 – Merced – Everett – Omak 53 dogs, 42 cats
7 January 2023 – Hammond – Coatesville 51 dogs, 71 cats
19 January 2023 – Special flight 7 dogs
To view a full list of the flights we completed in 2022 and other prior years, see the links below.
Departures
22 September – Jackson Mississipi – Hagarstown
24 September – Freeport – Fort Pierce
26 September – Yellowknife Northwest Territories – Halifax
30 September San Juan – Morristown
30 September Hammond – Coatesville – Portland Maine
22 October Guantanamo Bay Cuba – Manassas Virginia
Click on Each Year to See Our Past Flight Schedules
We Fly All Over North America Saving Pets and Delivering Veterinarian and Humanitarian Aid
Thanks to our extensive network of planes and pilots, we have the ability to fly on short notice to rescue and transport helpless pets out of overcrowded shelters and from disaster areas. We also have the ability to respond to natural disasters, such as hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Bahamas, tornados in Alabama, floods in Tulsa and Nebraska, earthquakes in Haiti and Puerto Rico, and a volcano in St. Vincent. On these missions we deliver urgently needed veterinarian and humanitarian relief aid and supplies on our in-bound flights.
Our Flights Help Shelters Reunite Families with Pets Lost or Displaced During Emergency Situations
When Conditions Require that Pets Need Help, it Often Means the Human Community Does Too
While the mission at Wings of Rescue is to primarily help pets in need, during times of natural disasters we work very hard to deliver relief for the human community as well by loading our incoming planes with whatever supplies will do the most immediate good. It is our mission to help alleviate suffering and make the world a better place with each of our flights. In addition to supplies for pets, we have delivered human medicine, food, water, blankets, a complete field hospital and just about anything a community facing challenges needs. Our versatile fleet and experienced pilots go where we’re needed.
Pet Safety is Our Highest Priority
We fly only pressurized and temperature-controlled aircraft suitable for safe long-distance and high-altitude journeys. We have worked with other national pet welfare organizations and veterinarians to develop strict transportation protocols that both we, as well as our shelter partners, must follow in order to keep our pet passengers safe and comfortable while on the ground and in the air. Our highly experienced pilots and Wings of Rescue crew members are extensively trained on the intricacies of handling pets, safe and efficient loading, and how to handle emergencies should they come up. Additionally, all pets meet strict medical requirements and carry with them any medical, behavior or other records available.
Why Our Services Are Needed so Badly
A great deal of success in reducing unwanted pet populations has been achieved in recent years thanks in great measure to the implementation of successful spay-and-neuter programs, comprehensive behavior training, and low-cost vaccination clinics. The availability of educational resources has also proliferated, which helps give people the skills they need to successfully retain their pets and not discard them in shelters. Yet sadly in many areas, especially those that have been hard hit by economic and housing challenges, pet overpopulation and high euthanasia rates remain an issue. Irresponsible backyard breeding also contributes to the pet-population problem. This means that local shelters, which are already often underfunded, end up with far more pets than their staff and facilities can care for.
So that’s where we can help. Wings of Rescue partners with outstanding animal shelters and a number of prominent rescue groups throughout North America to facilitate the transportation of at-risk pets. These partners not only have the available space to take in and care for our at-risk passengers, but also have dedicated staff and volunteers who work in their local communities finding responsible and loving individuals and families to adopt each and every rescue.
Wings of Rescue will never transport pets to communities where locally sheltered animals would be displaced by our arriving pets.
Wings of Rescue often responds to tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters by delivering emergency humanitarian and veterinary aid, and pet supplies, to disaster victims and pets throughout North America by making use of the space on its incoming flights sent to rescue at-risk shelter pets in the afflicted areas.
