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Dog Is My Copilot: Rescue Tales of Flying Dogs, Second Chances, and the Hero Who Might Live Next Door
Chicken Soup for the Soul meets Marley and Mea ]with a dash of The Right Stuff. Since 2008, an unlikely alliance of volunteer pilots and animal rescue enthusiasts has worked together to save thousands of death-row dogs by flying them to safe havens and better lives. Through two dozen storiesa "some heartrending, a few hilariousa "Dog Is My Copilot tells the inspiring story of Pilots N Paws, Americaa (TM)s most unique and high-flying animal rescue organization.
Dog Is My Copilot tells the story of Pilots N Paws, a high-flying animal-rescue operation founded "accidentally" in 2008 when a private pilot offered to fly a mission of mercy to save an abused dog for a friend. Once on the ground, the pilot asked his friend if there was a big need to transport shelter animals from one part of the country to another. She responded, "You have no idea." Since that time, Pilots N Paws has grown to include thousands of pilots who have transported tens of thousands of "death-row dogs" (and a fair amount of cats and other animals), sometimes more than 1,000 miles away to new homes or no-kill shelters, where they have a much higher chance of adoption.
The true heart of Dog Is My Copilot are the 24 real-life rescue stories collected from pilots and their animal-rescue counterparts on the ground. The short, captivating stories are accompanied by more than 100 charming, poignant, color photos--most taken by the pilots themselves--of their canine passengers in flight.
Unexpected things can happen when dogs reach cruising altitude, and the stories in Dog Is My Copilot run the emotional range from hilarious to heart rending--but the endings are always happy. These dogs are the lucky ones, and most of the pilots will tell you that when they get on the plane, they know it. After all, waiting for them on the ground hundreds of miles away is a second chance at a happy life with a loving forever family.
Dog Is My Copilot--it's Chicken Soup for the Soul meets Marley and Me . . . with just a dash of The Right Stuff. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Pilots N Paws organization.
Dog Is My Copilot tells the story of Pilots N Paws, a high-flying animal-rescue operation founded "accidentally" in 2008 when a private pilot offered to fly a mission of mercy to save an abused dog for a friend. Once on the ground, the pilot asked his friend if there was a big need to transport shelter animals from one part of the country to another. She responded, "You have no idea." Since that time, Pilots N Paws has grown to include thousands of pilots who have transported tens of thousands of "death-row dogs" (and a fair amount of cats and other animals), sometimes more than 1,000 miles away to new homes or no-kill shelters, where they have a much higher chance of adoption.
The true heart of Dog Is My Copilot are the 24 real-life rescue stories collected from pilots and their animal-rescue counterparts on the ground. The short, captivating stories are accompanied by more than 100 charming, poignant, color photos--most taken by the pilots themselves--of their canine passengers in flight.
Unexpected things can happen when dogs reach cruising altitude, and the stories in Dog Is My Copilot run the emotional range from hilarious to heart rending--but the endings are always happy. These dogs are the lucky ones, and most of the pilots will tell you that when they get on the plane, they know it. After all, waiting for them on the ground hundreds of miles away is a second chance at a happy life with a loving forever family.
Dog Is My Copilot--it's Chicken Soup for the Soul meets Marley and Me . . . with just a dash of The Right Stuff. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Pilots N Paws organization.
- GenresAnimalsNonfictionDogs
152 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2012
14 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
December 19, 2013
I thought this was an AWESOME book about the Pilots N Paws ("PNP") volunteer program; what makes it even better is that part of the proceeds of the book are donated to the PNP organization. I knew that such an organization was out there, but I did not know the details. The book focused on the volunteer pilots, the "on the ground" rescuers, and of course, the animals themselves. Each chapter was a short story about one of the animals who were rescued, complete with pictures and a little map showing where they traveled to and from and the distance. The stories are heartwarming and uplifting, and put a smile on my face. And of course, who wouldn't smile at a picture of a dog with headphones on!
I cannot say enough about the people who volunteer their time and pay for their own transportation costs, such as fuel and in some cases, the cost of renting a plane. I never heard the term "General Aviation Pilots" before, which refers to the non-commercial pilots. Now, however, I am in awe of them! These volunteer pilots have a passion for flying and animals, which shows in their dedication to their missions. One of the pilots purchased decals of dog silhouettes, and each time he flies a mission, he adds another decal to his plane. In addition to dogs, there were pictures of flying missions that included snakes, birds, rabbits and other animals.
I'll leave you with a thought from the book that really touched me. This is a paraphrase, and not an exact quote, but it gives you the idea. At the beginning of the book, the author paints a picture of humans looking up in the sky whenever we hear a plane overhead, wondering who is in the plane, where they are going, etc. (yes, I have done that before many times!!!) He then goes on to say that next time you do look up and see that, there just might be a pair of eyes filled with hope looking down at you that does not belong to the pilot!
I cannot say enough about the people who volunteer their time and pay for their own transportation costs, such as fuel and in some cases, the cost of renting a plane. I never heard the term "General Aviation Pilots" before, which refers to the non-commercial pilots. Now, however, I am in awe of them! These volunteer pilots have a passion for flying and animals, which shows in their dedication to their missions. One of the pilots purchased decals of dog silhouettes, and each time he flies a mission, he adds another decal to his plane. In addition to dogs, there were pictures of flying missions that included snakes, birds, rabbits and other animals.
I'll leave you with a thought from the book that really touched me. This is a paraphrase, and not an exact quote, but it gives you the idea. At the beginning of the book, the author paints a picture of humans looking up in the sky whenever we hear a plane overhead, wondering who is in the plane, where they are going, etc. (yes, I have done that before many times!!!) He then goes on to say that next time you do look up and see that, there just might be a pair of eyes filled with hope looking down at you that does not belong to the pilot!
September 19, 2012
If you are a dog lover and an animal rescue advocate, you'll enjoy these brief anecdotes about volunteer pilots who assist in taking dogs to their "forever homes." I also was unaware of this program, and I'm always amazed and happy to see the number of people and programs devoted to helping rescued animals. The stories were brief and slight (kind of what you'd find in Dog Fancy magazine), and I prefer a more detailed account (I like to feel that I really KNOW the dogs), but the book was warmly written and I appreciate any accessible book that will introduce people to animal rescue.
May 25, 2013
3.5 stars
I found out about this book via DearAuthor.com's May 24, 2013 Daily Deals post. I had not heard of Pilot N Paws before this.
Dog is My Copilot starts off with a short introduction to the founders of Pilot N Paws and the origin of the organization. Then, in Part Three, there are a series of short stories about the different dogs who have been rescued and the pilots and volunteers who worked together to rescue them. While the book lacked the polished, professional feel that one might get from those backed by the big publishers, I really enjoyed learning a bit about the Pilot N Paws organization, the people behind it, and the heartwarming stories of the dogs who got a second chance.
There were a lot of pictures with the accompanying story of that particular rescue/flight. Some stories were detailed. Others were a bit more cursory. But with each story, I marveled at the lengths that these people took - with their time, money, and other resources - to help rescue animals who might otherwise have been euthanized. I frequently found myself wiping away tears of emotion.
I read with the Kindle for PC app, and one of the issues I had with it was that sometimes the captions for the pictures were on the next page, causing me to flip back and forth between picture and caption. I think that this book might look better in the hardcover version.
I found out about this book via DearAuthor.com's May 24, 2013 Daily Deals post. I had not heard of Pilot N Paws before this.
Dog is My Copilot starts off with a short introduction to the founders of Pilot N Paws and the origin of the organization. Then, in Part Three, there are a series of short stories about the different dogs who have been rescued and the pilots and volunteers who worked together to rescue them. While the book lacked the polished, professional feel that one might get from those backed by the big publishers, I really enjoyed learning a bit about the Pilot N Paws organization, the people behind it, and the heartwarming stories of the dogs who got a second chance.
There were a lot of pictures with the accompanying story of that particular rescue/flight. Some stories were detailed. Others were a bit more cursory. But with each story, I marveled at the lengths that these people took - with their time, money, and other resources - to help rescue animals who might otherwise have been euthanized. I frequently found myself wiping away tears of emotion.
I read with the Kindle for PC app, and one of the issues I had with it was that sometimes the captions for the pictures were on the next page, causing me to flip back and forth between picture and caption. I think that this book might look better in the hardcover version.
May 26, 2012
This story is both about the Pilots N' Paws program and the stories of many of the dogs (and some of the other creatures) that this program has transported. The Pilots N' Paws organization is a volunteer based organization where pilots fly mostly dogs but other animals in need from high threat shelters to rescues or even to owners sometimes.
I had first heard of the organization when my husband's cousins did a couple transports. I thought it was so cool that these pilots would take the time to do something like that. My husband's cousin and his girlfriend actually adopted a dog from the program, which is super cool. And their dog is so awesome that it makes the program just that much more awesome.
Although the book is about the organization, it is mostly the stories of the various rescues that the program has done and therefore is probably more fitting for animal lovers than pilots perhaps. Each chapter covers a different rescue. Some of the rescues are funny like the one where this pilot gets stuck flying four very naughty dogs. Some are really touching like the ones about some special needs animals that find their "furever" home. I also really liked the stories and the pictures of some of the stranger animals that the program has rescued. Snakes on a plane? Yes, in this book there are most definitely snakes on a plane.
Bottom line: This is a great book for any animal lover. This is definitely a cool organization with a great mission and a great story!
I had first heard of the organization when my husband's cousins did a couple transports. I thought it was so cool that these pilots would take the time to do something like that. My husband's cousin and his girlfriend actually adopted a dog from the program, which is super cool. And their dog is so awesome that it makes the program just that much more awesome.
Although the book is about the organization, it is mostly the stories of the various rescues that the program has done and therefore is probably more fitting for animal lovers than pilots perhaps. Each chapter covers a different rescue. Some of the rescues are funny like the one where this pilot gets stuck flying four very naughty dogs. Some are really touching like the ones about some special needs animals that find their "furever" home. I also really liked the stories and the pictures of some of the stranger animals that the program has rescued. Snakes on a plane? Yes, in this book there are most definitely snakes on a plane.
Bottom line: This is a great book for any animal lover. This is definitely a cool organization with a great mission and a great story!
July 5, 2013
I picked up this book on a whim after seeing it on a forum and reading the description.
It's a pretty quick read... I'd say an hour or two of dedicated reading. It focuses on the Pilots n Paws transport company, who will fly shelter pets to their new homes or rescues to save them from death row at their current situation. Only the first couple chapters recount the founding (and very briefly at that) of this organization, and the rest of the book recounts stories of animals they've saved over the years. Some of the chapters are quite short, only a page or two, while the rest of somewhat more in depth, between 5 - 7 pages on the story of one dog or a group of animals.
I didn't know quite what to expect with this book - I almost felt like the book was too short and a lot more time could have been spent interviewing the founders to find out more about their stories, along with interviewing a number of pilots that donate their time to PNP.
That said, I did enjoy many of the stories about the dogs rescued through PNP, and all of the color photos that were included throughout. This is a good book to get you through if you're waiting on one coming in to the library or if you're on an airplane/bus/train/etc and need to pass some time. It's got quite a few heartwarming stories to pass the time, though in all this probably isn't a book that you'd read more than once. It's still good enough for at least a once over if you're curious.
It's a pretty quick read... I'd say an hour or two of dedicated reading. It focuses on the Pilots n Paws transport company, who will fly shelter pets to their new homes or rescues to save them from death row at their current situation. Only the first couple chapters recount the founding (and very briefly at that) of this organization, and the rest of the book recounts stories of animals they've saved over the years. Some of the chapters are quite short, only a page or two, while the rest of somewhat more in depth, between 5 - 7 pages on the story of one dog or a group of animals.
I didn't know quite what to expect with this book - I almost felt like the book was too short and a lot more time could have been spent interviewing the founders to find out more about their stories, along with interviewing a number of pilots that donate their time to PNP.
That said, I did enjoy many of the stories about the dogs rescued through PNP, and all of the color photos that were included throughout. This is a good book to get you through if you're waiting on one coming in to the library or if you're on an airplane/bus/train/etc and need to pass some time. It's got quite a few heartwarming stories to pass the time, though in all this probably isn't a book that you'd read more than once. It's still good enough for at least a once over if you're curious.
February 11, 2020
Not as meaty (dog pun. Ha ha. I mean, "in-depth") as I would have liked, but overall a great general introduction to the Pilots N Paws organization. I did not know that this service existed; I've seen ground transport buses several times, and I've heard of pilots/ airplanes and captains/boats going over to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian to retrieve animals, but this organization is more extensive than I had expected.
The background portion was interesting, and the dog stories themselves were variously touching, entertaining, humorous, and/or inspiring. I would have been happy to read either more of them or more in-depth about them (or about the pilots) but either way it was an enjoyable book.
The background portion was interesting, and the dog stories themselves were variously touching, entertaining, humorous, and/or inspiring. I would have been happy to read either more of them or more in-depth about them (or about the pilots) but either way it was an enjoyable book.
September 8, 2020
Good read. I long for more
As I read USA yesterday morning, I came across an article about Pilots and Paws. Reading the article made me long to read the book. I quickly downloaded it to my Kindle and began reading before bed. I enjoyed the stories of the pilots and the mostly dogs rescue. I would have liked longer stories, but most were satisfying. The next night I finished the book too fast. I also shed a few tears, but the stories all have good endings.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, especially dogs. It is a feel good book.
As I read USA yesterday morning, I came across an article about Pilots and Paws. Reading the article made me long to read the book. I quickly downloaded it to my Kindle and began reading before bed. I enjoyed the stories of the pilots and the mostly dogs rescue. I would have liked longer stories, but most were satisfying. The next night I finished the book too fast. I also shed a few tears, but the stories all have good endings.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, especially dogs. It is a feel good book.
June 8, 2017
These people are amazing and inspiring, the time and dedication they give to the welfare of these animals are impressive. The tales are interesting and some of the distances travelled awesome. A must read for any animal lover particularly the waggily tail type.
August 10, 2018
This book is a grouping of short stories. The stories in this book start out a little sad but all end happily. I received this book from the founder of the rescue organization, AHeinz57, I volunteer for. In fact she has a story in the book. The stories in this book are about the many volunteers and pilots that are a part of the organization, Pilot N Paws. Pilots all over the country rescue and fly dogs to new homes.
June 10, 2025
Who doesn't love a dog story. Animal rescues link up with pilots to transfer dogs in need of homes to rescues in different states. All the pilots donate their time and the cost of the flights. You have to admire all the dedicated people who work to save these animals from death row.
June 30, 2017
I enjoyed learning more about this organization and the dogs they have saved.
December 27, 2019
Very inspiring, well-written book! Would definitely recommend for any animal lover, especially those who have a heart for rescues.
August 5, 2020
good book overall but very sad to hear what some people do to their dogs like tie them on to a rail road track to be hit by a train😥
November 1, 2023
Fun story for dog lovers and pilots!
January 12, 2025
A quick read with lots of great photos. I enjoyed learning about this organization and all the wonderful dogs that have been saved.
March 18, 2024
A Dog Lovers Book
A short story of each refused dog and the wonderful pilots that flew the dogs to their new homes. Each dog is special with different stories but all have beginning tales of neglect and sorry. And all have happy endings with the help of small plane pilots who donate, time, their small planes, and their financial efforts to save hundreds of dogs.
A short story of each refused dog and the wonderful pilots that flew the dogs to their new homes. Each dog is special with different stories but all have beginning tales of neglect and sorry. And all have happy endings with the help of small plane pilots who donate, time, their small planes, and their financial efforts to save hundreds of dogs.
June 17, 2013
I was given the book as a present - the book is amazing, awe inspiring, and a wonderful read of both the Rescuers who work round the clock to rescue dogs, cats even a pig in one case from being PTS.. most of the dogs are rescued only minutes away from their deadlines. And the pilots who donate their time, planes, fuel to fly the dogs hundreds of miles to get them to their new homes, or sanctuary in a no kill shelter. And yes, I did cry my eyes out when I read this book.
The story of how 171 Dogs were rescued from New Orleans, flown a total milage of over 10,000 miles by these pilots to rescue them from the aftermath of Katrina on september 18th 2010 and not just pilots but drivers as well took the dogs to 15 different animal shelters in 6 states to help the dogs reach their promise of better ives and forever homes. 54 planes took part in this huge operation and without them the dogs might not have survived.
But the story that totally broke my heart was the story of Dorie a Belgian sheepdog who was flown and driven a total of 2006 miles from Harrisburg PA to New Mexico,Tuscon AZ. Dorie is now living happily her forever home and is a trained assistance dog and is seizure free. :)
Another story which had my crying into my Moo's fur was the story of Phoenix a Doberman..
The life these dogs started out with is cruel beyond belief and its sickening that humans can commit these acts to another sentient being.. but it also makes me happy that we have people like Jim *Uncle Jim* Carey who give so much to make sure these dogs have somewhere safe and loving to call home at last
The story of how 171 Dogs were rescued from New Orleans, flown a total milage of over 10,000 miles by these pilots to rescue them from the aftermath of Katrina on september 18th 2010 and not just pilots but drivers as well took the dogs to 15 different animal shelters in 6 states to help the dogs reach their promise of better ives and forever homes. 54 planes took part in this huge operation and without them the dogs might not have survived.
But the story that totally broke my heart was the story of Dorie a Belgian sheepdog who was flown and driven a total of 2006 miles from Harrisburg PA to New Mexico,Tuscon AZ. Dorie is now living happily her forever home and is a trained assistance dog and is seizure free. :)
Another story which had my crying into my Moo's fur was the story of Phoenix a Doberman..
The life these dogs started out with is cruel beyond belief and its sickening that humans can commit these acts to another sentient being.. but it also makes me happy that we have people like Jim *Uncle Jim* Carey who give so much to make sure these dogs have somewhere safe and loving to call home at last
March 11, 2012
This wasn't what I was expecting. For some reason, I thought it would be really heartwarming stories about pilots and their dogs. (Yes, I know, I got so excited, I didn't read the blurb thoroughly. Actually, there wasn't that extensive a blurb at first.) Well, the stories are heartwarming, but told in a way that made me think of a really long magazine article.
Though taken aback, I still consider it a very good read. It's not about pilots and their dogs, however, but about Pilots N Paws. There is a network of dog rescue crews on the ground and in the air. PNP consists of pilots that donate their time, their gas, their planes, their flight hours to make sure dog reach potential adoptive home across the country
Full review on Book Babe:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2012/...
Though taken aback, I still consider it a very good read. It's not about pilots and their dogs, however, but about Pilots N Paws. There is a network of dog rescue crews on the ground and in the air. PNP consists of pilots that donate their time, their gas, their planes, their flight hours to make sure dog reach potential adoptive home across the country
Full review on Book Babe:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2012/...
July 21, 2012
I liked the book. As an animal lover the jacket drew me to the book. I enjoyed reading the different stories of the dogs rescued. I had never heard of the organization Pilots N Paws(PilotsNPaws.org) before. It was heartwarming to read the stories of animal rescue groups joining forces with non-commercial pilots to save the lives of animals. The most amazing thing was that Pilots N Paws did this free of charge as a non-profit group. It was stated that rather than flying to another city for a $200 hamburger, these pilots relished the opportunity to make a difference and save the lives of dogs desperately needing another chance at life.
August 24, 2012
What a wonderfully uplifting book this is! Any animal lover will enjoy the story behind the founding of the nonprofit animal rescue organization called "Pilots & Paws." That all of these private pilots donate their time, planes and money to move these rescued animals across the country is absolutely heartwarming. This book will help renew your faith in humanity as a species. Definitely worth the time it will take to read it. Fair warning that for those who are soft-hearted, as I am, some of the background stories of the rescued animals may cause you some pain. However, the happy endings make that pain worth feeling. A definite 5 stars for this one!
May 31, 2013
A wonderful and inspiring book about the "accidental" beginning of the group PilotsN Paws. Pilots N Paws is a group of volunteers on the ground and private pilots in the air who fly rescue animals from high-kill shelters to places they can be adopted. They also fly emergency missions for gravely ill or abused animals. The pilots get no compensation, for time, gas or any other expenses.
Very short, fast read. Recommended for animal (and pilot) lovers!
Very short, fast read. Recommended for animal (and pilot) lovers!
July 1, 2014
This book was not what I expected. As another reader described, it was like an extra long magazine article. A composite of individual stories of different dog(s) rescues via airplanes of a group called Pilots-N-Paws (PNP). Glad I am finished with the book and can read something different and more evolving.
March 25, 2013
This is an amazing organization. Pilots and owners of planes donate their time to fly rescue dogs to their new homes. I work with Sarah's mother in law and she brought me the book to read. Had no idea about this wonderful organization and all the lives it has affected. <3
July 6, 2013
This book was just wonderful. It's the true story of a group of volunteer private pilots who transport rescue pets (mostly/but not only dogs) from very difficult situations to their new, forever homes. It's a very easy read with some amazing photos.
November 30, 2012
What a wonderful thing these people do!
October 5, 2014
Touching tales of rescue efforts among animal rescue organizations and Pilots N Paws. Inspiring!
January 19, 2015
This is a really good book for those who love dog rescue stories. It tells the stories of dogs who were helped along the road to their forever homes by pilots who helped transport them.
April 18, 2017
Never knew this existed
October 20, 2018
I have often said that if the dog doesn't like you, I probably won't either. Dog Is My Copilot gives a great look at people who have earned the love of our greatest furry friends.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews