Pilot flies 1,000 rescue animals to new homes
I thought this was a pretty interesting and uplifting story. I also see from the article that the Pilots-n-paws rescue organization is coming out with a book full of rescue stories.
Jeff Bennett has flown dogs, cats, rabbits, pythons and more to safety in his small plane
If accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative were Olympic events, Jeff Bennett would be bound for London next month.
Bennett, 53, a business owner and pilot who lives in the Florida Keys, studiously avoids dark headlines and depressing news stories. He gravitates toward happy people who build up rather than tear down, and he’s always on the prowl for ways to help out and give back.
But of course, not all disturbing news can be avoided. Bennett really gets riled over stories of animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment — and, about three and a half years ago, he decided to do something about it. He started using his small plane to fly dogs, cats and a host of other critters in dire circumstances to safe places where they’d receive treatment and care. On Friday, Bennett is hitting a milestone by flying his 1,000th rescue animal to safety.
“I never thought I’d be moving this many animals,” Bennett told TODAY.com. “I just really enjoy it, and I get to meet some of the best people out there.”
“I love being in the air, and this gave me something worthwhile to do in the meantime — something I could do to help,” pilot Jeff Bennett said. As gratifying as he finds his volunteer work, Bennett confessed that it sometimes overwhelms him to think about how many animals suffer and die needlessly. Due to animal overpopulation, an estimated 4 million dogs and cats — about one every eight seconds — are put down in U.S. shelters each year.
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Seriously, I think this is neat but the article is portraying this as an act of pure beneficence when he's probably writing off fuel, maintenance, depreciation and any other operating costs that apply.
Like this guy I love ze doggies and ze kitties but I think it's worth pointing out that he's getting a major tax break for his flying time. I'm a pilot and I'm familiar with quite a few other charitable groups that allow you to write off a variety of expenses. Quite a few of these non-profits do great things but taxpayers do indeed subsidize these activities and I can't recall reading any coverage of that fact.
You can throw rocks at me now.
