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 we are in. There is no cargo hold on any of our aircraft.
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 Transpacific 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. Our work is grounded in preparedness for emergencies, preparedness for disaster, and real-time crisis readiness, allowing our teams to mobilize quickly as part of coordinated animal disaster response efforts and large-scale rescue missions.
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, fires in Los Angeles and Canada’s Northwest Territories, and even a volcanic eruption in St. Vincent—we’ve been there. Our disaster relief operations include assisting with wildfire pet rescue, coordinated rescue operations, and the delivery of humanitarian support and veterinary aid to disaster zones, ensuring pets already in shelters are not affected by catastrophe and left behind.
On emergency missions, our planes usually arrive with urgently needed veterinary and humanitarian aid as part of integrated emergency operations and broader disaster relief operations, bringing relief to communities in crisis. They then depart with shelter animals, disaster-impacted pets who were already in shelters prior to the event, helping create space for incoming displaced pets who may later be reunited with their families. These efforts are supported by trained disaster relief teams.
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 Lorelai
Our 89,000th pet flown to safety
Lorelai’s journey marks a powerful milestone; she is the 89,000th pet flown to safety by Wings of Rescue. She came from a shelter in Texas, where she had waited far too long. A larger black dog with an underbite, Lorelei was often overlooked. Dogs like her often run out of time.
But everything aligned.
Lorelei was chosen for transport and flown to our partner, Dog Lover Rescue in New York, where someone was waiting.
Her adopter had recently lost her husband and was searching for companionship, something to help her begin again.
And we knew exactly who she needed.
Lorelei is gentle, loyal, and full of love, a dog who forms a deep, quiet bond, and just needed the chance to be seen. When the plane landed, her new mom was waiting for her.
What followed was more than an adoption. It was healing, a connection, and a new beginning for both of them. Lorelei, once overlooked, is now exactly where she belongs.
𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 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.
Our Community Impact
89594
TOTAL PETS SAVED
2412143
TOTAL MILES FLOWN
915028
POUNDS OF AID DELIVERED
21826