CNNHEROS: Dog lover flies 'paw-sengers' to safety
Pottstown, Pennsylvania Paul Steklenski has saved more than 1,000 dogs' lives in the last three years.
Twice a month, the Army veteran loads about 15 animals on to a small plane and flies them from high-kill shelters in the southern US to rescue groups up north.
"These animals are perfectly fine and healthy and adoptable -- (they) just can't get out of kill shelters to that freedom," Steklenski said. "They are getting a private flight to save their lives."
His efforts -- and the need -- led him to start his nonprofit, Flying Fur Animal Rescue, in 2015. But this mission was never something he'd set out to do.
In 2013, Steklenski began working at a company closer to his home, which led him to the idea of becoming a pilot.
"I started driving to my new job, and I would pass this small airfield," said Steklenski, a network engineer. "I don't know why, but I just decided one day to go in and sign up for flying lessons."
While training to get his pilot license, his family decided to adopt a dog. The process opened his eyes to a world he didn't know existed.
"You learn about this huge underground railroad of people who volunteer their time, money, and energy to get these animals out of kill shelters," Steklenski said. "I became so aware and more compassionate to all animals."
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Since starting the organization, Steklenski has completed nearly 100 flights to save animals, all paid for out of his own pocket. The organization now has its own plane and transports to rescue groups in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
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https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/17/us/cnnheroes-paul-steklenski-flying-fur-animal-rescue/index.html
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