Michael Schneider founded Pilots to Rescue ten years ago to fly dogs and cats from overcrowded southern shelters to adoption centers. His nonprofit has rescued nearly 5,000 animals using a Kodiak 100 aircraft that can land on short, remote airstrips. The plane's cargo flexibility makes high-volume transfers possible.
I started Pilots to Rescue 10 years ago to combine my love of aviation and rescuing animals. We fly a Kodiak 100 out of Caldwell. Today we've rescued nearly 5,000 animals, and these are mainly animals from municipally run shelters that are overcrowded down south, and it's all to give these animals a better chance of being adopted.
The Kodiak K100 is an exceedingly capable aircraft, and I think my favorite part about it is just how full we can get it. There are endless configurations of crates that we can pack it with and transport as many animals as we can physically get into the aircraft. We also really benefit from its short-field takeoff and landing capabilities. We can get in and out of absolutely anywhere, and we do.
I remember vividly the first time I flew left seat in the Kodiak. It was a demo flight of the aircraft we actually ended up purchasing. And I got to go to the factory in Sands Point, Idaho, seeing the way they're built and meeting with all the people there. And it was extremely exciting and comforting knowing that they had my back. It just made things easy, which inspires confidence. People are always asking how you can get involved. Roll up your sleeves, get involved, and, you know, do what you're passionate about. That's what we're doing here at Pilots to Rescue.
