
Got it on the third try!
Jon Wehrenberg of TN flew this beauty of a high wing Cessna 500 miles up to Harrisburg, PA on February 1. That was after snow and ice blanketed the south and he was forced to cancel twice.
Jon is one of the founders of Pilots ‘n Paws, an organization of pilots who volunteer their time and planes to move rescue dogs over long distances, from where the need is greatest to where medical help and adopters are abundant.
Jon says, “That plane is my trusty steed. I have owned it for 23 years, flown out 3 engines and used it in all kinds of weather flying to a schedule when I had a real job. I am more conservative now, but still enjoy flying the plane. Any time I can put it to work transporting pups I consider it a success because I am not only keeping my passengers from being euthanized, I am keeping the pipeline open so more animals will not be killed.”
L-R: Michelle Barnhart of York, PA with her adoptee, Dallas, Jon Wehrenberg, little Tiki in the small crate, and Todd Barnhart with Sawyer, another passenger bound for CT by car.
Ah, the glamorous life we lead in rescue!
At right, Sawyer and Tiki with Virginia Ellen and Kristin Haas on the next leg of their journey, meeting in almost tropical conditions at the Lehigh Valley Interchange of the PA Turnpike.
Just like Punxatawny Phil the next day, we sure as heck saw our shadows and knew another six weeks of winter was on the way!
Virginia brought her foster, Tavi, to join Tiki and Sawyer, and Kristin headed north to NY with all three to meet Laura Derevensky.
By 5 pm that day, Jon was safely back on the ground in TN, Dallas was in his new home, Tiki was on her way to CT with Dr Dorraine Waldow, a prior New Spirit adopter and volunteer, to be adopted, and Sawyer was picked up by his new family, the Merciers of NH.
What a great day!
New Spirit Aussie Rescue is so grateful to Jon, the Southern foster homes who cared for the dogs prior to transport and the Northern adopters and foster homes that opened their hearts and homes to dogs in need. This transport made it possible for GA volunteers to save a little black tri Clover - who was suffering terribly with a broken leg following being struck by a car.
Jon the pilot raved about how well behaved, clean and wonderful our New Spirit dogs were for this transport. A huge thanks to the Dravlands for overnighting our dogs near Chattanooga and getting them safely to the airport to fly.
We certainly hope to work with him in the future to save more dogs in need.