Our Community Impact
82337
TOTAL PETS SAVED
2324834
TOTAL MILES FLOWN
906597
POUNDS OF AID DELIVERED
13977
TOTAL PETS ALTERED
Our Impact
TOTAL PETS SAVED
TOTAL MILES FLOWN
POUNDS OF AID DELIVERED
TOTAL PETS ALTERED
Welcome to
wings of rescue
Wings of Rescue is a 501(c)(3) charity that flies at-risk pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster areas to safe havens — from where they are quickly adopted into loving, forever homes.
Every flight is done in a fully pressurized plane with the pets riding in the same cabin our entire flight crew is in.
We don’t just fly pets. When disaster strikes our aircraft carry vital veterinary supplies and humanitarian aid.
Flights can only solve a vital - but still small part of the pet overpopulation crisis. Spay and neuter programs are essential to reducing the overwhelming number of unwanted pets entering shelters. That’s why Wings of Rescue proudly sponsors our Operation Pit Stop program which provides free spay/neuter procedures to low-income families' pets. By making spay/neuter procedures affordable and available is the only way to permanently stop shelter euthanasia.
At the heart of everything we do is the simple belief: that every pet deserves a loving home. We know that responsible pet ownership not only transforms the lives of pets—but also strengthens families, enriches lives, and builds more compassionate communities.
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We average more than 100 flights per year and have landed in all 50 U.S. states, 8 Provinces of Canada, Mexico, and 15 countries in the Caribbean. We also have assisted in both Transatlantic and Transpacificl rescue flights.
Wings of Rescue is equipped to respond at a moment’s notice—flying into action to save vulnerable pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster zones.
From hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas… to tornadoes in Alabama, floods in Oklahoma, Kentucky and Nebraska, earthquakes in Haiti and Puerto Rico, fires in Los Angeles and Canada's Northwest Territories, eathquakes in Haiti and even a volcanic eruption in St. Vincent—we’ve been there - flying in with humanitarian and veterinary aid and departing with shelter pets who otherwise would have been euthanized to make room for the incoming pets displaced by the disaster.
On emergency missions, our planes usually arrive with urgently needed veterinary and humanitarian aid, bringing relief to communities in crisis—then departing with pets who were in shelters prior to the disaster - thereby making room for incoming pets who hopefully will be reunited with their families.
Our Flights Help Shelters Reunite Families with Pets Lost or Displaced During Emergency Situations
When we fly into disaster zones we will not fly any pet who entered the shelter until they have had 30 days to be reunited with their families. Instead we fly out the pets who had been abandoned prior to the disaster - pets who often would be euthanized to make room for the pets who were displaced by the calamity.
This critical action frees up vital space in shelters so they can care for pets who become lost or separated from their families during the emergency. This ensures that displaced pets have a safe place to stay while reunification efforts are underway.
We know that our shelter partners will do everything in their power to bring families back together—and we’re proud to support them.
When Conditions Require that Pets Need Help, it Often Means that Humans do too
While our primary mission at Wings of Rescue is to save pets in crisis from overcrowded shelters, we are equally committed to providing humanitarian and veterinary relief during times of disaster. When communities are hit by hurricanes, floods, fires, or other emergencies, we don’t arrive with empty planes—we arrive with purpose.
Our incoming flights are packed with whatever will make the most immediate impact: food, clean water, blankets, medical supplies, and the essentials—whatever it takes to support recovery.
At Wings of Rescue, every flight is a mission of compassion, delivering critical relief and helping rebuild hope.
Meet HOMER
Our 82,000th pet flown to safety
Recently, Wings of Rescue celebrated another milestone: 82,000 pets flown to safety since our founding in 2012. That lifesaving seat belonged to Homer—a super-friendly pup from South Florida who had been found as a stray hiding under a vehicle, his future once uncertain and hanging in the balance.
Homer was one of over 220 dogs and cats flown from overcrowded shelters in Fort Lauderdale and Miami-Dade to trusted rescue partners in the Northeast.
Homer’s journey led him to our incredible partners at Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Maine. But his story doesn’t end there.
A family that splits their time between Florida and Maine had been following Homer’s journey on social media. They saw something in him—something special. When he arrived in Maine, they were already waiting. The shelter lobby was full of hopeful adopters, but when this family met Homer, it was love at first sight. They knew he was meant to be theirs.
Today, Homer is no longer a shelter pet. He’s surrounded by grandchildren, soaking up love, and living the life every pet deserves.
Homer’s story isn’t just a milestone. It’s a reminder of why we fly.
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Pet Safety is Our Highest Priority
We only fly pressurized and temperature-controlled aircraft and the pets travel in the same cabin that we do. They never are in cargo holds. We have worked to develop strict transportation protocols that both we, as well as our shelter partners, must follow in order to keep our pet passengers safe and comfortable while on the ground and in the air. Our highly experienced pilots and Wings of Rescue crew members are extensively trained on the intricacies of handling pets, safe and efficient loading, and how to handle emergencies should they arise. Additionally, all pets are thouroughly vetted and meet our strict medical protocols. They all have health certificates issued by USDA certified veterinarians.
