For the past 96 hours our team has been making runs back and forth from Dulles International Airport to a private rescue outside of Pittsburgh. We have been meeting international flights with very special cargo onboard. Our friends at Humane Society International have been working on shutting down a dog meat farm in Namyangju, South Korea. These animals have been living in the worst conditions we have ever seen.
The mission began on Thursday when the first Landplane departed. Since the airlines would only send 4 at a time we had to shuttle back and forth to make this mission work. First up was Ralph Harlan Jr and Jim Moran who met the first two animals to land on US soil. They were followed by successive teams teams who went back and forth between Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh. By the time Lisa Thomas, Lori Kraus, Ralph Harlan Sr, Christina Calaloni and MIchael Calaoni finished at 1:30 am last night 16 animals were safe and sound.
These missions are incredible for both our team and for these animals. We are the first smiling faces these animals see when they arrive in the United States. Our volunteers worked tirelessly to transport these animals on the last leg of an incredible 7000 mile journey from Danger to Safety.
We want to give a special thank you to these hero Landpilots who gave up the last 4 days of their lives to undertake this complex mission. The work that goes on behind the scenes to make this happen is equally impressive. No Dog Left Behind Executive Director Mary Kennedy Withrow lived and breathed each moment all weekend long. No Dog Left Behind Manager Colleen King worked all week with Mary on logistics. It was a massive effort that our team is incredibly proud to have worked on. Welcome to the USA doggies. (Please note that pics were not available do to the locations and times we were there)
