December 24th, 2012 we started our 24th Pilots N Paws Rescue at (3M5) Moontown Airport in Huntsville, Alabama, our home base. Weather was bad at Moontown. We had to get a clearance to get out and over the mountains. We headed to Centre- Piedmont Alabama to pick up Angel, a retriever mix.

It was cold and raining when we landed. The weather was so bad we were stuck on the ground for 2 hours. There was no building to go inside and wait out the weather at this little airport so we stood under the airplane wings to stay dry. Even though the weather was not very good, we took off and tried to make it the Jacksonville, FL. A line of storms moved in and ahead of our flight path. We had to divert and land in LaGrange, GA to wait out the storms.

In LaGrange it was apparent we were going to be stuck awhile so we took Angel and went to get some lunch. After the second delay we headed to Jacksonville, FL. We were vectored through the dissipating line of storms. We landed about 5:30, four hours behind schedule, and met up with Avis Ward, who will take Angel in for her forever home.

Angel was a Christmas Eve puppy. She was a great passenger and everyone at the airports just loved her. She is now in a warm and loving home. It is always very emotional for these rescuers to let the dogs go, but they know the animals are headed for a better life. All rescues are complex rescues, but they end up very successful. We appreciate how hard the volunteers work facilitating constantly changing dogs, destinations, times, pilots, and weather. Unfortunately many others aren’t as lucky, and as you all know, the only answer to this devastating issue is to spay/neuter/rescue. All of these dogs are really sweet, and they deserve to be curled up on the living room floor at night not tossed out like trash.

—Cessna N2858F Todd & Mary Brooks