(PRESS RELEASE) AUSTIN, TX — Dog Is My CoPilot, the national non-profit that transports at-risk animals from overcrowded shelters to adoption centers in other geographic regions where loving families are waiting for them, has announced an important flight scheduled for May 26, 2021 out of El Paso, TX, timed with National Dog Foster Care Month. Austin-based Wondercide, the leader in safe and effective, plant-powered pest protection for pets, people, and homes is also on a mission to protect pets and is excited to participate in the first Texas flight of 2021. This past holiday season Wondercide pledged to donate proceeds from the Wondercide sampler box, and Dog is My CoPilot is pleased to announce the entire flight has been made possible by Wondercide customers and this generous donation.
Every year in the U.S. approximately 733,000 shelter pets are euthanized because there is no room for them in municipal shelters. Overcrowded animal shelters with too many adoptable pets are turning to transport programs like Dog Is My CoPilot to help place more animals in loving forever homes. Peter E. Rork, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and lifelong pilot, and Judy Zimet, Esq., a lawyer in Arizona, founded the organization in 2012 with the goal of saving as many animals’ lives as possible. Every year the nonprofit works with volunteers to help pilot the flights, and this year they have grown to include a team of eight volunteers which will allow them to conduct even more flights. In 2020 they completed 55 flights and this year have planned 80 flights, estimating that Dog Is My Copilot will be able to save over 5,000 animals in 2021.
“The support we receive from our community of animal lovers amazes me everyday,” said Dr. Peter Rork, president and chief pilot for Dog Is My CoPilot. “We are humbled by the generosity of companies like Wondercide who share our mission to help protect as many pets as possible. Thank you to the Wondercide team for being a valued partner and supporting us on our first Texas flight of 2021 so we can accomplish even more life-saving efforts this year.”
“When I first heard about Dog Is My CoPilot and their innovative approach to saving pets, I immediately knew we needed to connect with this incredible organization and get involved,” said Stephanie Boone, CEO and founder of Wondercide. “They’re a shining example of what we call Fierce Love. It’s the ‘never going to give up on you’ kind of love and Dog Is My CoPilot is taking Fierce Love to new heights.”
The Wondercide partnership with Dog Is My Copilot was such a great success that Wondercide plans to continue donating a percentage of profits from their signature sampler boxes to the nonprofit with promotion during the holiday season to make an even bigger impact. “We love the idea of gifts that give back and will continue to look for ways to give our customers the opportunity to help us do good,” said Boone.
The animals leaving El Paso International Airport were rescued by Heather Hall with the Underground Dog organization from several West Texas rural shelters, in addition to about 40 dogs being rescued from El Paso Animal Services. They will be transported to Portland-Troutdale Airport, where they will be greeted by Julie Zagrans from One Tail at a Time PDX and several families ready to foster, and hopefully adopt, their new furry friends. One dog we are very excited to see get a new home is Buckaroo – a dog that is hard to place locally and breed restricted on commercial airlines. He was found abandoned right before Winter Storm Uri hit, he found safe haven in the Presidio Animal Shelter in Texas, has been fully vetted, and hopes to be on the maiden mission of 2021.
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The flight departs El Paso around 5:30am CST and will arrive in Portland at approximately 3:00pm PST. Wondercide will also be providing care packages to all of the foster families on the ground in Portland once the plane arrives.
dogcopilot.org
wondercide.com
