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

Newsworthy Video by Tatiana Flowers-Robinson

21 Apr 2016 · 3 min

Watch on YouTube

3:23

In this interview, Michael Schneider recounts how a 2015 rescue of a litter of puppies abandoned in a ditch sparked the creation of his animal‑rescue organization, which mobilizes volunteer pilots to air‑lift dogs from kill shelters to no‑kill shelters, foster homes, and adoption centers. He explains his personal financial commitment—donating at least $10,000 annually and expressing willingness to give far more if possible—while emphasizing the moral imperative to combat the roughly four million animals euthanized each year in the United States. Schneider contrasts flying with driving, noting the speed, challenge, and personal enjoyment of aviation, and reflects on dogs’ possible awareness of being rescued. The segment also includes brief remarks from other speakers praising Schneider’s contributions and noting that rescued dogs are expected to be ready for adoption within five to six days.

Chapters

My first rescue was in the summer of 2015. Someone actually had a litter of puppies and threw them in a ditch on the side of the road. So we saved those 10 dogs' lives, and that was what really started my organization. We use volunteer pilots to rescue animals facing euthanasia by flying them from kill shelters to no-kill shelters, foster homes, homes and adoption centers. I don't think it's right that we slaughter 4 million animals in this country each year. I invest a minimum of $10,000 a year into my charity.
Want some more? No? You okay? You okay? All right.
If I had the means, I would donate $100,000, $1 million. $10,000 is a lot of money, but it doesn't seem like a lot of money to be personally invested into something I believe in. So I'll put one dog in, then I'll put the crates in.
Right now? Oh, I see what you do. OK.
I fly instead of driving because of the experience, the challenge, And of course, I love it. And a 5-hour drive flying could only take maybe an hour. We don't know for sure that the animal knows it's being rescued. But I do think dogs have a sense of where they came from. And they know that they're going on a journey. And I would imagine that they are hoping that they're going to be adopted by a loving family. Rutland County traffic, Arrow on short and final runway 1. Rutland County traffic.
Very good.
We're thrilled that Michael was able to volunteer his time to bring them up here today. I don't know that we would have been able to get these dogs if it weren't for him. I would say within 5 or 6 days they'll be going up for adoption.
Temperature: 1.1 Celsius. In terms of saving animals, we're just scratching the surface. Sheer numbers, of course, it doesn't really make that much of a difference. But what's happening is you have a kind of exponential effect. You're creating awareness regarding this problem.