Two dogs got a ride in an airplane
Sunday that helped save their lives.
Military veteran, Darin Hostetler,
with Pilots N Paws helped transport the two rescue dogs to their new foster
homes.
As soon as his plane stopped on the
tarmac at Atlantic Aviation in South
Bend, a 9 month old Belgian malinois named Fergie
popped her head up and looked through the plane's window.
Hostetler said, "I
couldn't ask for a better companion to travel with."
Sunday he brought Fergie to meet
Janet Graham, who was also a part of the dog's journey.
"I'm gonna
transport her to Portage, IN and meet another transporter and she's
gonna pick her up and take her to her foster home," said Graham.
After handing Fergie over to Graham,
Hostetler also picked up 5 month old Liberty
from Lisa Doan. "Liberty is extremely
withdrawn she came out of a very neglectful situation," said Doan.
Hostetler is flying Liberty
to a foster home north of Traverse
City, Michigan.
The military veteran first heard
about Pilots N Paws last November while in Khandahar, Afghanistan
and had to get involved in the transports.
Today was his first one.
But this isn't a first
for South Bend,
Graham says dozens of dogs are transported through this area each month.
"Unfortunately there are too many animals
out there compared to homes for them," said Graham.
That's why the network of volunteers
that drive and fly these dogs to their new homes is so important. Without them Graham said, "there'd be a lot more animals being euthanized."
As the owner of two rescue dogs
himself, Hostetler says it's a no brainer for why he's willing to fly dogs
across the Midwest. "I'm going to
fly anyway might as well help somebody else out in the process get to a decent
home," said Hostetler.
Hostetler isn't the only one
involved in today's transport who owns a rescue dog.
Doan also owns one and Graham said
she ended up adopting a dog she once transported.
