Our Impact
TOTAL PETS SAVED
TOTAL MILES FLOWN
POUNDS OF AID DELIVERED
TOTAL PETS ALTERED
Welcome to
wings of rescue
Wings of Rescue is a 501(c)(3) charity that flies at-risk pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster areas to safe havens — from where they are quickly adopted into loving, forever homes.
Every flight is done in a fully pressurized plane with the pets riding in the same cabin our entire flight crew is in.
We don’t just fly pets. When disaster strikes our aircraft carry vital veterinary supplies and humanitarian aid.
Flights can only solve a vital - but still small part of the pet overpopulation crisis. Spay and neuter programs are essential to reducing the overwhelming number of unwanted pets entering shelters. That’s why Wings of Rescue proudly sponsors our Operation Pit Stop program which provides free spay/neuter procedures to low-income families' pets. By making spay/neuter procedures affordable and available is the only way to permanently stop shelter euthanasia.
At the heart of everything we do is the simple belief: that every pet deserves a loving home. We know that responsible pet ownership not only transforms the lives of pets—but also strengthens families, enriches lives, and builds more compassionate communities.
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We average more than 100 flights per year and have landed in all 50 U.S. states, 8 Provinces of Canada, Mexico, and 15 countries in the Caribbean. We also have assisted in both Transatlantic and Transpacificl rescue flights.
Wings of Rescue is equipped to respond at a moment’s notice—flying into action to save vulnerable pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster zones.
From hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas… to tornadoes in Alabama, floods in Oklahoma, Kentucky and Nebraska, earthquakes in Haiti, fires in Los Angeles and Canada's Northwest Territories, and even a volcanic eruption in St. Vincent—we’ve been there - flying in with humanitarian and veterinary aid and departing with shelter pets who otherwise would have been euthanized to make room for the incoming pets displaced by the disaster.
On emergency missions, our planes usually arrive with urgently needed veterinary and humanitarian aid, bringing relief to communities in crisis—then departing with pets who were in shelters prior to the disaster - thereby making room for incoming pets who hopefully will be reunited with their families.
Our Flights Help Shelters Reunite Families with Pets Lost or Displaced During Emergency Situations
When we fly into disaster zones we will not fly any pet who entered the shelter until they have had 30 days to be reunited with their families. Instead we fly out the pets who had been abandoned prior to the disaster - pets who often would be euthanized to make room for the pets who were displaced by the calamity.
This critical action frees up vital space in shelters so they can care for pets who become lost or separated from their families during the emergency. This ensures that displaced pets have a safe place to stay while reunification efforts are underway.
We know that our shelter partners will do everything in their power to bring families back together—and we’re proud to support them.
When Conditions Require that Pets Need Help, it Often Means that Humans do too
While our primary mission at Wings of Rescue is to save pets in crisis from overcrowded shelters, we are equally committed to providing humanitarian and veterinary relief during times of disaster. When communities are hit by hurricanes, floods, fires, or other emergencies, we don’t arrive with empty planes—we arrive with purpose.
Our incoming flights are packed with whatever will make the most immediate impact: food, clean water, blankets, medical supplies, and the essentials—whatever it takes to support recovery.
At Wings of Rescue, every flight is a mission of compassion, delivering critical relief and helping rebuild hope.
Meet Daisy
Our 84,000th pet flown to safety
Recently, Wings of Rescue reached another incredible milestone: 84,000 pets flown to safety since our founding in 2012. That lifesaving seat belonged to Daisy, a gentle poodle mix from Los Angeles who came heartbreakingly close to being euthanized in an overcrowded shelter after her family surrendered her while she was in heat.
Daisy’s future was slipping away until our trusted partners at Paws 4 Life K9 Rescue stepped in and pulled her just in time. They scheduled her on our next flight, giving her a chance she never would have had on her own.
Daisy joined a planeload of pets flying from Los Angeles to New York, heading toward open kennels, loving families, and a fresh start. When she landed, she was welcomed by our wonderful partners at Happily Ever After Rescue, where she is now safe, cared for, and loved.
Daisy is no longer a shelter pet with an uncertain fate. She is finally living the life every pet deserves. Her story shows exactly why we fly and why each milestone matters.
Daisy's story isn’t just a milestone. It’s a reminder of why we fly.
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Pet Safety is Our Highest Priority
We only fly pressurized and temperature-controlled aircraft and the pets travel in the same cabin that we do. They never are in cargo holds. We have worked 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 arise. Additionally, all pets are thouroughly vetted and meet our strict medical protocols. They all have health certificates issued by USDA certified veterinarians.
Our Community Impact
85060
TOTAL PETS SAVED
2356179
TOTAL MILES FLOWN
913047
POUNDS OF AID DELIVERED
18392