As the seasons change, we wanted to take a moment to share an update from Dog Is My CoPilot (DIMC). It’s been a busy year, and we’ll be flying through the winter, thanks to our incredible team, our rescue and shelter partners, and supporters like YOU! Your generosity continues to make a life-saving difference for shelter pets nationwide.
Every day, overcrowded animal shelters across the country take in more dogs and cats than they can house. With too few adopters in their communities, adoptable pets often face the unthinkable euthanasia simply because there’s no space for them to live. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, families are waiting to adopt, and shelters need more pets to meet that demand.
Dog Is My CoPilot bridges this gap by flying animals to communities with greater adoption opportunities. Rita Earl-Blackwell of Paws For Life K9 Rescue in Los Angeles, California, shared why our flights are so critical:
“Transports like this don’t just change the lives of the dogs and cats onboard, they also help relieve overcrowded shelters, giving countless other animals the chance to be seen, saved, and loved.”
DIMC’s mission addresses a critical need reducing shelter overcrowding, saving lives, and supporting a nationwide network of rescue partners committed to giving these animals a second chance. Thanks to generous donors like you, we fly thousands of homeless pets from overburdened shelters to adoption centers and foster networks, where they are welcomed with open arms.
With two planes flying full-time, we transport dogs and cats efficiently across the country, reducing stress on the animals and giving them the best chance at a happy new beginning.
Our Founder, President and Chief Pilot, Dr. Peter Rork, leads Dog Is My CoPilot with the same passion he brings to every flight. His commitment to saving lives is deeply personal; this year, two of our furry passengers even became part of his own family at home!
“Every time I fly, I see the difference one flight can make, not just for the animals onboard, but for the families waiting to love them. Adopting a few myself was just my way of joining in on the joy we help create.”
This summer, we celebrated not just our 40,000th rescue passenger but are quickly approaching our 45,000th rescued animal! Already in 2025, we have flown more than 100 missions, carrying over 5,000 dogs and cats to safety.
With shelters across the South overwhelmed, our planes are flying at full capacity nearly every day. Unfortunately, one aircraft is still grounded after tornado damage last year, making every flight—and every donation—more critical than ever. Your support ensures that we never have to say “no” when a shelter calls for help.
“Every flight represents not just a number, but a life saved and a family made whole.”
– Peter Rork, Founder and Chief Pilot
Our Dog Is My CoPilot community powers every flight. Your support fuels our aircraft, covers the cost of trained pilots, and keeps our lifesaving missions in the air. Because of you, we’ve expanded flight capacity, responded quickly to emergencies like the Central Texas flooding, and strengthened the infrastructure needed to grow. Each flight carries upwards of seventy-five animals, always at no cost to our partners.
On behalf of the tens of thousands of dogs and cats who have taken flight, and the thousands more waiting for their turn, thank you for believing in our mission. Together, we can keep filling the skies and new adoptive homes with hope.
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