While numerous large dogs sit on death-row in LA, there are many families in Boise, Spokane and other areas looking for large active dogs to serve as hiking partners. The idea was simple, move animals from high kill overcrowded shelters to rescues/no-kill shelters in areas that have a demand. Tragically Doyle passed in 2017 but will serve as the company mascot in infamy.
It features the painted DIMCP logo which is a sketch of Rork’s black lab Doyle, in his flying googles, cap and scarf. In addition to the inside of the plane being outfitted to carry pet crates, Rork also designed the outside to look like the Jet Blue of pet travel. “Ok! If that’s all of ’em, I need to take off before that fog bank is rolls in or I could be grounded!” It wasn’t ten minutes until more than 35 dogs and cats had been positioned in the plane. “Give me large crates going to Spokane!” He called. On second glance I saw the inside had been completely hollowed out and Rork was strategically stacking crates with the precision of a Jenga master. Surrounded by rows of tagged plastic crates, I wondered what type of magic act it was going to take to somehow fit them all into this aircraft. Fortunately, no sooner had it been emptied when another one filled with more “ lucky dogs” pulled up right on its tail. In the time it took for me to saunter over and join the sweating, hard working volunteers, the van had been completely unloaded. I wanted to kick myself with my stiletto heel for the ridiculous shoe choice I had made. Judy Zimet, who coordinates the details on the ground and formed DIMCP.
Always a passionate dog lover, Rork makes “no bones” about his preference for dogs over humans. After spending over 30 years practicing orthopedic surgery, he retired his scrubs and took to the friendly skies where the views can’t be beat. In addition he is qualified to fly single engine aircraft, sea planes and is a certified flight instructor. Rork, “the pilot”, put himself through medical school working as a commercial pilot. That hero is Peter Rork M.D., Co-Founder and President of DOG IS MY CO-PILOT. And for these dogs, their time had run out. The more dogs coming into these shelters, the less time they have. These lucky dogs had arrived from several over-crowded, high-kill shelters in the LA area. The precious cargo inside: nervous canine first-time fliers.
A tireless group of volunteers were quickly unloading dozens of plastic travel crates. Already on the tarmac was a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and a large SPCAla transport van. This was an opportunity I definitely didn’t want to sleep through.Īt 5:30am sharp, just as the dawn was breaking, I arrived at a private aircraft terminal in Long Beach. Today, I had been invited to join a very important rescue mission helping transport shelter animals to their new “ FUR-EVER” homes. I thanked God getting up at this hour was not part of my normal routine. I trudged out of bed and decided it was too early to even think about making a cappuccino. Long gone were her days of being an abused breeder dog. Obviously dreaming of the new life she was spoiled with. Olive was softly snoring right next to me. It was pitch dark when my alarm abruptly ended my REM sleep.
0 kommentar(er)
