We always wish for the ability to understand what animals are trying to tell us.
But there are times when they can clearly communicate how they truly feel, like sadness, happiness, love, and gratitude. A pet rescue pilot had this experience when he flew a senior dog named Christopher.
Julian Javor is a full-time pilot and the founder of Pet Rescue Pilots.
He began flying rescued animals in 2017 after earning his commercial pilot’s license. He still has his regular job on weekdays but he dedicates his weekends to his passion for flying and transporting pets to their forever homes.
His adventures usually cover California up to Washington but he also flies pets into the Western provinces of Canada. His work with various private entities and rescue shelters led him to Christopher, a senior chihuahua who’s desperately looking for a home he could spend the rest of his life in.
Javor was immediately smitten.
With his tongue sticking out, Christopher curiously looked at the flight staff. Every year he has lived shows on his features like his fading fur color, glassy eyes, and gentler energy.
They stacked the crates inside his small plane, with Christopher enjoying the amenities of his “first-class cabin”. With him are other rescued pets who needed to be relocated or were adopted by families from other states.
As Javor explained, their organization helps move out pets from overcrowded shelters.
In California, for example, rescue intake can quickly outpace adoption. Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of Oregon, people wanted to adopt but there’s just not enough rescues to rehome. Pet Rescue Pilots help bridge this gap by transporting animals where people are willing to take them in.
Christopher is one of those, and this flight might be his only chance to live a wonderful life.
During the flight, the team makes sure that the pets are not stressed. When they reach a safe cruising altitude, that’s when they get one of the animals to see the best view on Earth. And Javor enjoys this moment as much as their guests on board.
“We got to safe altitude and that’s when we say, ‘Let’s bring a pet up and say hi,’” Javor shared with The Dodo, “That’s kind of the reward for me. It’s a seven-day week life, but I get to spend a few minutes with these pets up there, and that makes it all worth it.”
Even with the height and the constantly moving instruments in front of him, Christopher seemed excited with this in-flight entertainment.
But this is just the beginning of a happy life that he’s about to experience.
When they landed, Javor excitedly brings Christopher to his new mom. Much to their delight, her mom brought his brother along to welcome him too.
Almost immediately, the two dogs took a liking to each other. It was a good sign that Christopher will be a good fit for his new family.
However, before Javor goes back to the skies and Christopher rides off to his new life, the senior dog did something that the pilot will never forget.
‘The really cute part was Christopher came to say goodbye to me towards the end. He came and sat in my lap, like, ‘Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it.’” Javor narrated.
The Pet Rescue Pilots will be transporting their 1,500th furry passengers soon. And with the hundreds of animals they airlifted through the years, Javor knows that these rescued pets can read people and their intentions.
He saw it in other dogs, and most especially with Christopher.
Javor said that he can’t imagine a better way to spend his weekends in and we’re glad that there are people like him.
Watch how this senior dog show his thanks when a pilot brought him to his forever home.
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