Michael SchneiderFounder, Executive Director & Chief Pilot aka "Top Dog", Pilots To The Rescue · Top Dog @ Pilots To The Rescue

Home For Good Rescue

2 Mar 2021 · 2 min

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1:56

In this testimonial, Michael Schneider, founder of the nonprofit Pilots to the Rescue, recounts how he started the organization in 2015 to use volunteer pilots to transport animals at risk of euthanasia. He explains his lifelong connection to rescue animals, how obtaining his pilot’s license inspired him to combine aviation with animal rescue, and describes his first mission rescuing a litter of ditch puppies from North Carolina. Schneider highlights the need to raise funds for a larger aircraft to expand capacity, notes the excellent condition of the rescued puppies, and praises the partnership with Home for Good, which places rescued animals into loving homes. He conveys deep emotional fulfillment from the work, emphasizing the love and loyalty the animals bring to adopters.

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Hi, my name is Michael Schneider. I'm the founder of Pilots to the Rescue. I started the organization back in 2015. We use volunteer pilots to rescue animals facing euthanasia. I've always grown up with animals. We always had rescue animals. When I got my pilot's license, I was looking for a way to give back and to use this great skill that I have. So I was able to combine my love of aviation and rescuing animals. The first rescue I did was a litter of ditch puppies. These puppies were thrown on the side of the road. They were from North Carolina. Then I realized I needed to get— raise money to get a larger aircraft. Because a lot of the pilots, they only have access to these small aircraft. I noticed the condition of the dogs was excellent. They were all clean and well-groomed. They had all their shots and they were all taken care of. Compared to some of the other rescues I've done, some of the dogs we rescue are really pretty beat up, but these guys are good to go. They're in adoption form. I only know great things about Home for Good, and to know that all these animals I rescued today are going to be placed with a lot of loving homes, and those animals are going to give them undeniable love and loyalty, it really warms me. It fills me up inside.