The PIX11 news segment, hosted by reporter Alex Lee, showcases the Brooklyn‑based charity Pilots to the Rescue, founded by Michael Schneider. The organization mobilizes volunteer pilots to transport neglected animals from distant shelters to safe homes. The segment follows a specific rescue mission: a flight from Whiteville, North Carolina to Farmingdale, Long Island to retrieve three dogs—Sunny, Cher, and Shaggy. Ground volunteers Amy and Rick coordinate the pickup at Columbus County Airport, where the dogs are identified, loaded, and flown back to New York. Upon return, the dogs are transferred to A New Chance Animal Rescue in Westchester for adoption or fostering. The report highlights the charity’s nine‑year history, 240 flights, 251,000 miles flown, and 2,846 animals rescued, and encourages viewers to support the mission through adoption, fostering, or donations via the PIX11 website.
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That stays. Dogs may be man's best friend, but unfortunately man doesn't always treat dogs like one in return. Thankfully, there are people out there who are always looking out for dogs and cats and other pets, including one group from our area that's taking its mission to new heights.
Yeah, they're dedicated to bringing animals out of bad situations and into new lives with loving owners. PIX11's Alex Lee tagging along as Pilots to the Rescue did just that.
You're just a doggone diggity doggone diggity dog. Who can resist Puppy.
Look at these sweet angels. It's hard to imagine tossing them out like trash. But that's how life began for Sunny, Cher, and Shaggy, 3 of the countless animals left to fend for themselves on the streets.
These animals need love. They can't speak for themselves.
You are the voice for the voiceless. Pilots to the Rescue, started in 2015, is a Brooklyn-based organization made up of volunteer pilots who fly all all over the country to save neglected animals and give them a second chance at life. Born out of Michael Schneider's love of animals and aviation, the charity is his answer to the nearly 1 million shelter animals that are euthanized each year, according to the ASPCA.
I just feel like there's nobody helping, or not enough help for the animals. I started doing the rescues because as long as I'm going someplace, just to go for a $500 lunch is stupid. Pick up a dog and bring it back.
Fly away with me.
And that's exactly what brought us to Farmingdale, Long Island on a Saturday morning. Our mission: head to Whiteville, North Carolina to pick up Sunny, Cher, and Shaggy.
Fly away with me.
All right, shall we board?
Let's go.
Let's go pick up some dogs.
Woo!
I'm riding shotgun.
Okay, we're clear for takeoff.
We're clear for takeoff, Tom.
Let's do it.
I'm nervous. We're doing it for the puppies. We're doing it for the puppies. Here we go!
Smooth, right, Alex?
So far, so good.
90 minutes later, we're making our descent to Columbus County Airport to meet the pups.
I'm so excited to meet these dogs. Over-under I take all 3 of them home? Only time will tell.
An operation of this magnitude would not be possible without the help of a small village, including boots-on-the-ground partners like Amy.
Hi, Amy.
Love the shirt. Nice to meet you.
And Rick.
Thanks for doing this with us.
This is Shaggy.
He's a 3-year-old Old English Sheepdog.
Ah.
And we have Sonny and Cher. They're both Pekingese mix small dogs. Sonny is 1, and Cher is 2. I think getting the dogs out of these situations and then seeing them all the way through to find a home and a family where it can live, that's the gratification.
I got it right and I'm waiting for you.
Hi, cutie pies.
Your chariot away to you.
Let's load them up.
Attaboy!
And just like that, we're headed back to New York with some precious cargo.
Though you think it's just a dream, I got it right here waiting for you.
We made it.
We've landed safely back in Farmingdale.
Victor, hats off to the pilot. This is so incredible. These 3 dogs have just begun their second chance at life. I'm very emotional. We are waiting for Albert. We're with Pilots to the Rescue now. He's bringing the big van around. We're going to load the dogs up for the last mile, and that's the last stretch of their journey till they go to their forever homes.
Can't wait! Oh, hey. Come here.
You got a little sneeze?
Hi.
Come on.
Hi, babe. And even though it broke my heart, it was time to say our final goodbyes to the Motley Crew.
There you go.
Good job, buddy.
Beginning dull and gray, finishing bright and sunny for our pups. The perfect metaphor for their odyssey.
Waiting just to change your life.
Ah, that's nice. And we should tell you, great piece there by Alex. Cher and Sunny and Shaggy now in the care of A New Chance Animal Rescue in Westchester and available to adopt or foster. And if you're interested in bringing one of or all of them home, even if it's just for a little bit, we have a link to the shelter on our website, pix7.com. There you can also find information on how you can support Pilots to the Rescue.
Yeah, look at those cute little faces, right? All right, by the way, in its 9 years of existence, Pilots to the Rescue has flown 240 times, traveling nearly 251,000 miles. Now that's enough to get to the moon and then some. Most importantly, it has rescued 2,846 animals and counting. All right, it is hard for younger patients with
