On Thursday, December 5,  Pilots To The Rescue, a NYC-based nonprofit organization will transport a number of dogs and cats from several shelters in the Lafayette, LA area (list of organizations below) to the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation and Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons to have a better chance of adoption and finding their forever homes for the holidays. The mission is sponsored by Modern Aviation, a company that provides support services to aviation businesses and private flyers at an airport. Pilots To The Rescue will utilize the Modern Aviation services at all airports on this mission. 

"At the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves a chance at life, regardless of where they come from." said Ashley Bloom, Director of Shelter Services at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. "Partnering with Pilots To The Rescue allows us to extend our reach and provide life-saving transport to animals in need, ensuring they have the opportunity to find loving homes. Together, we are helping create a world where these pets not only have a chance to live, but thrive."

“Millions of animals are euthanized simply because shelters don’t have enough space to care for them,” said Michael Schneider, Founder and Head Pilot of Pilots to the Rescue. “By transporting pets to available shelters by air, we put them in position to quickly find new homes and loving families. We fly to save lives.”

"We are excited to kick off our relationship with Pilots to the Rescue by sponsoring the relocation of shelter cats and dogs in need from Louisiana to Long Island," said sponsor Modern Aviation's CEO, Mark Carmen. "The trip will be completed with visits at Modern Aviation in Wilmington, NC at KILM and in Suffolk County, NY at KFOK. We are passionate about supporting animals in need and Pilots to the Rescue does amazing work relocating them to better living situations."

Modern Aviation is a company that operates a network of premium fixed-base operator (FBO) properties. FBOs provide a range of services for private aircraft, including fueling, hangarage, maintenance, and ground handling. The mission will utilize airports in the Modern Aviation network:

• The animals will be boarded onto the plane at Lafayette Regional Airport the morning of December 5.
• The flight is expected to arrive at Francis S Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, NY in the afternoon later that day.

Providing the animals are the following Louisiana organizations: Saint Landry Parish Animal Control, Atchafalaya River Rescue, the City of Eunice, and Heroes Everywhere Animal Rescue.