December 5, 2024 • 19 mins
Maria chats with Pilots To The Rescue Founder Michael Schneider. Michael's passion started from good parenting--he grew up with rescued animals! Then when he sky-dived...things happened!
PTTR is a non-profit that transports animals from under-resourced shelters to adoption centers where the animals can find homes. They've helped transport pets affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
And recently relocated 32 sea turtles!
Pilots To The Rescue survives on donations. Learn more at pilotstotherescue.org.
PTTR is a non-profit that transports animals from under-resourced shelters to adoption centers where the animals can find homes. They've helped transport pets affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
And recently relocated 32 sea turtles!
Pilots To The Rescue survives on donations. Learn more at pilotstotherescue.org.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Maria's MUDs and Stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
And with me is Pilots to the Rescue founder Michael Schneider. So, Michael,
thank you for taking some time out today to talk
all about Pilots to the Rescue.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Thanks for having me on your show.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Maria absolutely so tell me you've been around now, I
believe since twenty fourteen, So ten years, is that correct?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Next year is our tenth anniversary. Started Pilots to Rescue
in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Oh, twenty fifteen, okay, So tell me how did this
all begin? Where did it begin?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Pilots or Rescue began with skydiving. That was my introduction
into general aviation.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And for anybody, anybody who's ever been skydiving before, they'll
all tell you it's usually you're sitting in some small
plane on the floor with some dude strapped to your back.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, As if that wasn't exhilarating enough, I really took
to the instrumentation in the flight deck and the single
pilot up there, and it was just you know, in
awe of what was going on. So it was my
third jump in Miami, I started asking questions of the
pilot and he encouraged me to take a discovery flight.
(01:19):
Discovery flights you could take at any small airport. There's
over four thousand airports in the United States. And I
took a discovery flight and I was hooked. I started
lessons immediately.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Okay, so tell me before you go on, what exactly
is a discovery flight For those who aren't like aware.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Discovery flight is you go with a flight instructor. It
costs a couple hundred dollars and they do the takeoff
and landing. You get to discover what it's like to flying,
So you get to turn, you get to climb, you
get to descend, you get to get to feel the
forces of flight. Okay, and gives you an introduction into
(01:57):
aviation and what it's like to fly one of these
amazing machines. And then you could decide for yourself if
it's something you want to pursue.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Wow. Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
And so you never had this like this desire until
you went skydiving, correct, yes, wow?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
In Cincinnati, Cincinnati at the time, this is over like
fifteen years ago, okay. And the woman I was dating
at the time asked if I wanted to go skydiving
for my birthday, and I was like, yeah, that sounds
like a good idea. Why not.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Wow, who would have phoned right what it would lead to?
That's pretty cool?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So the animal the animal portion. The animal portion came
in because I grew up with rescue animals. To my parents,
my parents dismay. I was the kid in the neighborhood
that would bring home the bird with the wounded wing
or you know. And I eventually turned into a pet
sitting business where I walk people's dogs, do house calls
(02:50):
and stuff like that. So I always had an affinity
towards rescue animals. I didn't even know you could buy
buy a dog or cat. I just you know, my
parents took me to the local shelter and you picked
out the sad dog or the sad cat. And sure
that's all I ever knew.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Sure, Well, good parenting right on your parents' part. Very yeah,
good parenting. So anyway, go ahead, I'm sorry. So okay,
So you so you had all of this, You had
rescue in your DNA because of your parents. You took
the Discovery flight, you fell in love with it, and
then what was next?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, Then when I moved back to New York, I
was looking for a way to get back with this
awesome pilot's license that I worked so hard to achieve.
And I've heard about a group. I heard about another
group doing these type of things with pilots, you know,
in these small planes, rescuing animals that were at risk
of being euthanized. And being the serial entrepreneur that I am,
(03:42):
I wanted to start my own organization. So I raised
ten thousand bucks in forty eight hours and pilot's a rescue.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Wow, that's incredible. That's a great story.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I mean it's it's not a story, but it's a
great it's great. That's amazing that you did that within
forty eight hours, and then hence pilots to the rescue began.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
That's right. Wow, our humble, humble roots ten years ago,
very humble.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, you So, Now, how many pilots do you have
alongside yourself? Right?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Because you still you fly? Still? Correct?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yes, I am still I'm the chief pilot. We have
we have five pilots that fly the one plane that
we own and operate out of New Jersey, but we
also have a transport board full of volunteers, over a
thousand pilots in the database. And also we also have
volunteer drivers. So a lot of people ask how they
can get involved in pilots to rescue. Huh, they just
(04:35):
go to our They just go to our websit pilots
to the rescue dot org and they sign up as
a volunteer. If you have a vehicle and you're willing
to drive, we could definitely use our help because ground
transport is how most of these animals get saved. Sure,
the plane is a novelty. The plane is very expensive
to operate and it has great use cases, certainly after disasters.
(04:56):
We've done a lot of disaster work on the heels
of Hill of Milk, right, But were we also do
a lot of ground transport.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
So no, yeah, so that's good. And you survive on donations, correct, Yes.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
We are one hundred donation driven. We have some very
uh generous donors. And but it's never it's never enough money.
Nobody who runs a charity would tell you they got
plenty of money.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Right, leave us alone. We're good, right, No, that's true,
and it adds up. Yeah, I'm sure it does. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And also the fact that there's fuel and everything else.
So what's a typical day for you, like you wake up, Yeah,
a typical day for Michael.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
A typical day for Michael involves wearing a lot of hats. Okay,
So if I'm not flying a mission, i am doing marketing,
I'm doing fundraising, I'm doing helping with flight coordination. If
I'm flying a mission, typically I'll wake up a crazy
hour in the morning, four or five in the morning,
I'll head out to the airport, which is about an hour.
(06:01):
I live in Brooklyn. The airport is in Essex County
and Jerfield, New Jersey. Go out to the airport. Pre flight,
the plane set up the crates, which is like a
giant game of Tetris, trying to make all these animals fit.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Of course, of course, yeah, about how many crates can
you fit? Or that depends on the sizes of the dogs.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Is it like a.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Certain amount a certain number that you transport or it
all depends.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, it depends on the size of the animal the
crates are. The size of the crates are the limiting
factor and how many animals we can take. But if
they're a bigger if they're bigger dogs if they're over
like sixty eighty pounds, sometimes we'll tether them instead of
putting them in a crate. Sure, and Maria, Maria, all
these animals go to sleep. They just lay down and
go to sleep. You know, the vibrations, there's less oxygen.
(06:47):
We could only fly to eight thousand feet because it's
not a pressurized aircrap, right, But they pretty much just
go to sleep and they're good passengers.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Ah. I love that.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
That's cute, but no, but it's true because it's almost
like putting a kid in a car. You know, remember
growing up, we were in the backseat of our parents'
cars and we'd go to sleep, So it's kind of
the same concept. And also the dogs, I think, know, hey,
we're going to we're going to a place where we
can get new homes.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So yeah, you know, absolutely, I get to see that transform.
I get to see that transformation every rescue that we do.
It's amazing experience. We animals are way more intuitive and intelligence.
We give them credit for it, and I get to
see that. I see their sad faces, the stressful part
of loading into their aircraft, coming from terrible conditions, over
(07:35):
crowded shelters, neglect, abuse, supporting situations, and then when we
get to the other ends where they have a chance
of being adopted, they really light up. They may be
a little bit timid coming out of the crate, but
all the people receiving these animals have so much love
and warmth, and they're you know, greener pastors are ahead
and being able to witness that transfer transformation is what
(07:58):
keeps me going. It really does, because of course, anybody
another thing, anybody who runs them a nonprofit will tell
you that they don't do it for the pay. That's right.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
No, it's true.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
It's a thankless job, as they say, but it's the
reward of it that you know, Like when you go
to sleep at night, a you're exhausted, but be you
know that you help to re home so many animals,
and it's like you probably sleep very well.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
You should.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, well, you hit it right on the nose.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
No, it's true. It's a good feeling. I'm sure it's
a great feeling.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, And that's that's a challenge for all the listeners
is to get involved, to roll up their sleeves actually
go out to local shelters and help out those animals
need love, even if it's temporary.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Sure, even if you're just walking a dog, you know,
in a shelter, or you're clearing out a cat litter,
you know it's true because animals definitely need their social
animals like we are, and they need us as much
as we need them.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
So how do you know, like how do you decide
where to go?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Are you like part of a network where people will say, like, hey,
we're in Mississippi and we just found a hoarding situation
or we just rated a puppy mill, like how does
how do you know where your flights are going?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Like where you should be going?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yes, So we have existing relationships with shelters we've been
working with for nearly a decade, and it always takes
us down south here in the eastern part of the
United States. We're going to the Carolinas, Tennessee's, Kentucky, Georgia.
Those states are fortunately states have over crowded shelter populations,
(09:26):
and then we get calls all the time, calls and
emails all the time of certain situations, certainly a disaster
relief after what happened with Helene and Milton. We're heading
down to Asheville, North Carolina. We've gone there several times, Tennessee,
the neighboring states, and yeah, we're always fielding new opportunities. Tomorrow,
(09:47):
we're actually bringing down thirty two turtles, wow, Ridley Kemp
seat turtles. We're working with the Noah, the US Fish
and Wildlife portion of the government, and we're helping them
relocate stranded sea turtles. These are turtles that have overstayed.
They're welcome in the north, you know, the New England
(10:08):
waters and if we don't transport them, they become hypothermic, sure,
cold stunned. We are bringing these turtles down and then
we're bringing dogs back, which is really rewarding to be
able to not go down with an empty cabin. Nobody
likes that. We want to make good use of the aircraft.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Do you do that often where it's you're taking one
dropping them off and picking up others or this just
happens to be like you know, it happens sometimes, but
it's not the norm.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think that word is getting getting to answer a question.
It's it's not the norm. But we try to whenever possible,
We try to combine rescues because it's such an expensive resource.
Of course, yes, we're so appreciative of our donors dollars.
It's just it's it's more efficient. Of course, knowing that
we have an aircraft going down there, if we can
put something in it and bring something back or make
(10:55):
a stop along the way, sure certainly make that effort.
Running this like a tight ship. Yeah, fast as we can.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
It sounds like it.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
No, I mean it sounds like obviously you know what
you're doing, but you are running a tight ship.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
But no, but it's great.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
No, seriously, I think it's really it's amazing all the
work that you do and all the animals that you've saved,
and not just cats and dogs, I mean turtles and everything,
which is pretty cool. Is there any particular like, over
the years that you've been doing this, is there any
particular situation or story or rescue that stands out? And
(11:31):
there might not be because there might be too many
for you to grasp or think about, but it possible.
Is there any that really stands out in your mind
that you were like, oh, thank god we were there.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
And it's always the abuse and neglected animals that stand
out the most to me. Sure, So we've transported Si
a cat that got shot and it's high I had
to have it. I removed animals that have been abused
where the limbs have to be removed. But these are
the dec being the best animals that you could possibly adopt.
(12:02):
So always everybody wants a puppy, but the puppy is
the one going to chew your favorite shoes for your
purse or make on your carpet. It's really the senior
animals or the older animals that are the best ones
to adopt because you know their temperament and they have
all their shots, you know. Yeah, those are the animals
I remember the most. We've had escape artists with the cats.
(12:24):
Early on when I was doing this, we were experimenting
with different types of crates and the cats. They are
very cunning when it comes to getting out of tight spaces,
as you know. So as you can imagine, you're flying
along and the cat just climbs up into the flight
deck and jumps on you, you know, a little unnerving.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Of course, the cat wants to fly the plane like
we are, like, wait, wait, I know how to do.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
This pretty much, yeah, pretty much, pretty much. No, but
it's true.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
I mean, you make a very very valid point, especially
this time of year, and I just it's funny you say,
because I just posted something about this today. Is you know,
it's the time of year that people are like, oh,
I'm going to I'm gonna go and buy a puppy
or a kitten for someone, and it's like, A, that's
a terrible idea unless it's for your own family, and B,
don't buy them.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Go to a shelter. Puppies are a huge amount of work.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
You know, there are seniors that happen to be there
because you know, sheltered animals are not damaged. They just
have a situation that they wound up there. You know,
we can say this. We have to say this until
we're blue in the face because I will still run
into people who will say, oh, yeah, I don't want
to go to a shelter that's a damaged animal, And
I'm like, what does that mean? Like you're damage thinking that,
(13:34):
you know, like animals wind up there because of a situation.
Adopting a senior dog, it's coming house broken, it's probably
coming from a situation where its owner might have died,
and no, there's nobody there to take the poor animal. So,
you know, adopt a senior dog or a young adult
who isn't a puppy anymore, because many times puppies start
to grow and people go, oh, it's now a dog.
(13:57):
Oh that's a lot of work. Like yeah, so you know,
I love that you brought that up. It's a very
valid point that, yeah, puppies are a lot of work,
and there are plenty of other pets out there that
you can adopt and we'll give you just as much
love and fun and all the wonderful things that pets
bring into our life.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
So good point.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Sorry to get on my soapbox about it, but it's
just it really, you know, it's a pet peeve of mine.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
We have a saying, adopt, don't shop exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
There's a reason. There's a reason. So Michael, I love this.
I love that you're doing all this.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
And as you continue, do you feel like I mean,
but I guess it really it depends to weather wise.
Are there times of the year that are more busy
for you guys than not, or it's just it's constant
because life is constant, things are always happening.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
It's constant. I would say that we've had busy hurricane seasons. Sure,
seems like that's a very busy time of the year,
the fall, the late summer, it's a fall. Things slow
down a little bit around the holidays and in the winter.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Yeah, it's constant, especially with the with the endangered species
works that we do. We also do, as you mentioned,
the Steve turtles, but we also do wolves. Nice we
transport critically in danger wolves. We're in conversations about transporting tigers. Wow, okay,
believe it?
Speaker 3 (15:17):
No, Wow, that must be really cool.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Definitely, definitely, And and I was a little concerned when
they said that they don't necessarily sedate the tigers for transport.
That was a little concerning.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Sure, So that's interesting. I would I would think that
they have to be, but they don't. And do the
tigers fall asleep just like the dogs do?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I think they do. I think it's more about keeping
them happy on the trip.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Okay, And how do you do that with tigers.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
That's that's a good question. The other concerning thing is like,
we want to make sure that the veterinarian that comes
along is taking the enclosure. And I was concerned about
that because that means that it's the pilots in the
front the tiger cage and then the veterinarian hind Oh.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Yeah, you need the vets in between because they know
what to do. Yeah, no, that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Yeah, you know picture that visual Yeah, no, I.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Am, and that's why.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah, no, I am, And that's what I'm thinking because
not yes, because you want the vet in between because
in case the tiger gets a little bit unruly, the
vet can control it, as opposed to you don't need
a tiger in the in the pilot's area while you're flying.
That's that wouldn't be good for anyone or the animals
as well. Yeah, no, I get that, I get that,
but it's fascinating just I mean, I find I think
(16:32):
tigers are like one of the most beautiful animals, but
of course they're really scary too because they're wild animals.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, certainly majestic. I didn't realize that the US has
the most tigers in the world. We have like five
thousand tigers here and the rest of the world has
like thirty eight hundred. That was a statistic. They told me.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Wow, should I assume that they're not all in sanctuaries
and zoos and some are like the tiger king people,
those people around the country.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Unfortunately, a lot of the work that they do. This
is tigers in America. A lot of the work that
they do is seizures and yeah, confiscations from unruly characters
on the side of the you know, side of the road.
Yeah great, yeah, side of the road. Yeah. Not everybody's Shaquille.
Shaquille O'Neil apparently has two tigers.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Oh really interesting. Yeah, I didn't even realize that. Interesting.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, anyway, we're going on this tiger tiger tangent.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
No, but it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
It's fascinating because they are beautiful animals and it's nice
that you're involved with that, with tigers and wolves and
turtles and dogs. Okay, So the most important thing, though,
is because all of the work that you do, you know,
you survive on donations. So for anyone who is listening
right now, and it's the time of year where you know,
people are looking to give donations, and many people who
(17:45):
are listening right now, I know because my listeners are
very generous and always are looking to help. So that's
that's first and foremost. But I also know for other
people sometimes they look for places to donate before the
of the year for tax purposes. So it's kind of
win win for a charity. So for you, anyone who
(18:06):
is thinking about help being out can by going to
Pilots to the Rescue dot org and they can learn
about you and learn about your organization. They can volunteer
if they're in the Tri state area and they can drive.
But they can also make donations if someone because I
know there are people who are listening all over the country.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So Pilots to the Rescue dot org. Correct, Michael, that
makes sense.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yes, absolutely, welcome to donations. It's giving time of the
year and we appreciate all the support.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Well excellent, Well, I'll keep doing what you're doing, Michael Schneider.
I do appreciate you and all your work and all
your time and effort, and again, Pilots to the Rescue
dot org. And I definitely want to check in with
you sometime next year early next year and we can
see what else is going on with you, because I'm
sure you're going to have even more stories.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
So I thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Fantastic, looking forward to thank you. Maria. Sharon has never
been a grater
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Operator in this mot Seal Raider Varmgator
It's Maria's MUDs and Stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
And with me is Pilots to the Rescue founder Michael Schneider. So, Michael,
thank you for taking some time out today to talk
all about Pilots to the Rescue.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Thanks for having me on your show.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Maria absolutely so tell me you've been around now, I
believe since twenty fourteen, So ten years, is that correct?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Next year is our tenth anniversary. Started Pilots to Rescue
in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Oh, twenty fifteen, okay, So tell me how did this
all begin? Where did it begin?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Pilots or Rescue began with skydiving. That was my introduction
into general aviation.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And for anybody, anybody who's ever been skydiving before, they'll
all tell you it's usually you're sitting in some small
plane on the floor with some dude strapped to your back.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, As if that wasn't exhilarating enough, I really took
to the instrumentation in the flight deck and the single
pilot up there, and it was just you know, in
awe of what was going on. So it was my
third jump in Miami, I started asking questions of the
pilot and he encouraged me to take a discovery flight.
(01:19):
Discovery flights you could take at any small airport. There's
over four thousand airports in the United States. And I
took a discovery flight and I was hooked. I started
lessons immediately.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Okay, so tell me before you go on, what exactly
is a discovery flight For those who aren't like aware.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Discovery flight is you go with a flight instructor. It
costs a couple hundred dollars and they do the takeoff
and landing. You get to discover what it's like to flying,
So you get to turn, you get to climb, you
get to descend, you get to get to feel the
forces of flight. Okay, and gives you an introduction into
(01:57):
aviation and what it's like to fly one of these
amazing machines. And then you could decide for yourself if
it's something you want to pursue.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Wow. Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
And so you never had this like this desire until
you went skydiving, correct, yes, wow?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
In Cincinnati, Cincinnati at the time, this is over like
fifteen years ago, okay. And the woman I was dating
at the time asked if I wanted to go skydiving
for my birthday, and I was like, yeah, that sounds
like a good idea. Why not.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Wow, who would have phoned right what it would lead to?
That's pretty cool?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So the animal the animal portion. The animal portion came
in because I grew up with rescue animals. To my parents,
my parents dismay. I was the kid in the neighborhood
that would bring home the bird with the wounded wing
or you know. And I eventually turned into a pet
sitting business where I walk people's dogs, do house calls
(02:50):
and stuff like that. So I always had an affinity
towards rescue animals. I didn't even know you could buy
buy a dog or cat. I just you know, my
parents took me to the local shelter and you picked
out the sad dog or the sad cat. And sure
that's all I ever knew.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Sure, Well, good parenting right on your parents' part. Very yeah,
good parenting. So anyway, go ahead, I'm sorry. So okay,
So you so you had all of this, You had
rescue in your DNA because of your parents. You took
the Discovery flight, you fell in love with it, and
then what was next?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, Then when I moved back to New York, I
was looking for a way to get back with this
awesome pilot's license that I worked so hard to achieve.
And I've heard about a group. I heard about another
group doing these type of things with pilots, you know,
in these small planes, rescuing animals that were at risk
of being euthanized. And being the serial entrepreneur that I am,
(03:42):
I wanted to start my own organization. So I raised
ten thousand bucks in forty eight hours and pilot's a rescue.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Wow, that's incredible. That's a great story.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I mean it's it's not a story, but it's a
great it's great. That's amazing that you did that within
forty eight hours, and then hence pilots to the rescue began.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
That's right. Wow, our humble, humble roots ten years ago,
very humble.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, you So, Now, how many pilots do you have
alongside yourself? Right?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Because you still you fly? Still? Correct?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yes, I am still I'm the chief pilot. We have
we have five pilots that fly the one plane that
we own and operate out of New Jersey, but we
also have a transport board full of volunteers, over a
thousand pilots in the database. And also we also have
volunteer drivers. So a lot of people ask how they
can get involved in pilots to rescue. Huh, they just
(04:35):
go to our They just go to our websit pilots
to the rescue dot org and they sign up as
a volunteer. If you have a vehicle and you're willing
to drive, we could definitely use our help because ground
transport is how most of these animals get saved. Sure,
the plane is a novelty. The plane is very expensive
to operate and it has great use cases, certainly after disasters.
(04:56):
We've done a lot of disaster work on the heels
of Hill of Milk, right, But were we also do
a lot of ground transport.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
So no, yeah, so that's good. And you survive on donations, correct, Yes.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
We are one hundred donation driven. We have some very
uh generous donors. And but it's never it's never enough money.
Nobody who runs a charity would tell you they got
plenty of money.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Right, leave us alone. We're good, right, No, that's true,
and it adds up. Yeah, I'm sure it does. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And also the fact that there's fuel and everything else.
So what's a typical day for you, like you wake up, Yeah,
a typical day for Michael.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
A typical day for Michael involves wearing a lot of hats. Okay,
So if I'm not flying a mission, i am doing marketing,
I'm doing fundraising, I'm doing helping with flight coordination. If
I'm flying a mission, typically I'll wake up a crazy
hour in the morning, four or five in the morning,
I'll head out to the airport, which is about an hour.
(06:01):
I live in Brooklyn. The airport is in Essex County
and Jerfield, New Jersey. Go out to the airport. Pre flight,
the plane set up the crates, which is like a
giant game of Tetris, trying to make all these animals fit.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Of course, of course, yeah, about how many crates can
you fit? Or that depends on the sizes of the dogs.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Is it like a.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Certain amount a certain number that you transport or it
all depends.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, it depends on the size of the animal the
crates are. The size of the crates are the limiting
factor and how many animals we can take. But if
they're a bigger if they're bigger dogs if they're over
like sixty eighty pounds, sometimes we'll tether them instead of
putting them in a crate. Sure, and Maria, Maria, all
these animals go to sleep. They just lay down and
go to sleep. You know, the vibrations, there's less oxygen.
(06:47):
We could only fly to eight thousand feet because it's
not a pressurized aircrap, right, But they pretty much just
go to sleep and they're good passengers.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Ah. I love that.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
That's cute, but no, but it's true because it's almost
like putting a kid in a car. You know, remember
growing up, we were in the backseat of our parents'
cars and we'd go to sleep, So it's kind of
the same concept. And also the dogs, I think, know, hey,
we're going to we're going to a place where we
can get new homes.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So yeah, you know, absolutely, I get to see that transform.
I get to see that transformation every rescue that we do.
It's amazing experience. We animals are way more intuitive and intelligence.
We give them credit for it, and I get to
see that. I see their sad faces, the stressful part
of loading into their aircraft, coming from terrible conditions, over
(07:35):
crowded shelters, neglect, abuse, supporting situations, and then when we
get to the other ends where they have a chance
of being adopted, they really light up. They may be
a little bit timid coming out of the crate, but
all the people receiving these animals have so much love
and warmth, and they're you know, greener pastors are ahead
and being able to witness that transfer transformation is what
(07:58):
keeps me going. It really does, because of course, anybody
another thing, anybody who runs them a nonprofit will tell
you that they don't do it for the pay. That's right.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
No, it's true.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
It's a thankless job, as they say, but it's the
reward of it that you know, Like when you go
to sleep at night, a you're exhausted, but be you
know that you help to re home so many animals,
and it's like you probably sleep very well.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
You should.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, well, you hit it right on the nose.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
No, it's true. It's a good feeling. I'm sure it's
a great feeling.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, And that's that's a challenge for all the listeners
is to get involved, to roll up their sleeves actually
go out to local shelters and help out those animals
need love, even if it's temporary.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Sure, even if you're just walking a dog, you know,
in a shelter, or you're clearing out a cat litter,
you know it's true because animals definitely need their social
animals like we are, and they need us as much
as we need them.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
So how do you know, like how do you decide
where to go?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Are you like part of a network where people will say, like, hey,
we're in Mississippi and we just found a hoarding situation
or we just rated a puppy mill, like how does
how do you know where your flights are going?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Like where you should be going?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yes, So we have existing relationships with shelters we've been
working with for nearly a decade, and it always takes
us down south here in the eastern part of the
United States. We're going to the Carolinas, Tennessee's, Kentucky, Georgia.
Those states are fortunately states have over crowded shelter populations,
(09:26):
and then we get calls all the time, calls and
emails all the time of certain situations, certainly a disaster
relief after what happened with Helene and Milton. We're heading
down to Asheville, North Carolina. We've gone there several times, Tennessee,
the neighboring states, and yeah, we're always fielding new opportunities. Tomorrow,
(09:47):
we're actually bringing down thirty two turtles, wow, Ridley Kemp
seat turtles. We're working with the Noah, the US Fish
and Wildlife portion of the government, and we're helping them
relocate stranded sea turtles. These are turtles that have overstayed.
They're welcome in the north, you know, the New England
(10:08):
waters and if we don't transport them, they become hypothermic, sure,
cold stunned. We are bringing these turtles down and then
we're bringing dogs back, which is really rewarding to be
able to not go down with an empty cabin. Nobody
likes that. We want to make good use of the aircraft.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Do you do that often where it's you're taking one
dropping them off and picking up others or this just
happens to be like you know, it happens sometimes, but
it's not the norm.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think that word is getting getting to answer a question.
It's it's not the norm. But we try to whenever possible,
We try to combine rescues because it's such an expensive resource.
Of course, yes, we're so appreciative of our donors dollars.
It's just it's it's more efficient. Of course, knowing that
we have an aircraft going down there, if we can
put something in it and bring something back or make
(10:55):
a stop along the way, sure certainly make that effort.
Running this like a tight ship. Yeah, fast as we can.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
It sounds like it.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
No, I mean it sounds like obviously you know what
you're doing, but you are running a tight ship.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
But no, but it's great.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
No, seriously, I think it's really it's amazing all the
work that you do and all the animals that you've saved,
and not just cats and dogs, I mean turtles and everything,
which is pretty cool. Is there any particular like, over
the years that you've been doing this, is there any
particular situation or story or rescue that stands out? And
(11:31):
there might not be because there might be too many
for you to grasp or think about, but it possible.
Is there any that really stands out in your mind
that you were like, oh, thank god we were there.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
And it's always the abuse and neglected animals that stand
out the most to me. Sure, So we've transported Si
a cat that got shot and it's high I had
to have it. I removed animals that have been abused
where the limbs have to be removed. But these are
the dec being the best animals that you could possibly adopt.
(12:02):
So always everybody wants a puppy, but the puppy is
the one going to chew your favorite shoes for your
purse or make on your carpet. It's really the senior
animals or the older animals that are the best ones
to adopt because you know their temperament and they have
all their shots, you know. Yeah, those are the animals
I remember the most. We've had escape artists with the cats.
(12:24):
Early on when I was doing this, we were experimenting
with different types of crates and the cats. They are
very cunning when it comes to getting out of tight spaces,
as you know. So as you can imagine, you're flying
along and the cat just climbs up into the flight
deck and jumps on you, you know, a little unnerving.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Of course, the cat wants to fly the plane like
we are, like, wait, wait, I know how to do.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
This pretty much, yeah, pretty much, pretty much. No, but
it's true.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
I mean, you make a very very valid point, especially
this time of year, and I just it's funny you say,
because I just posted something about this today. Is you know,
it's the time of year that people are like, oh,
I'm going to I'm gonna go and buy a puppy
or a kitten for someone, and it's like, A, that's
a terrible idea unless it's for your own family, and B,
don't buy them.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Go to a shelter. Puppies are a huge amount of work.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
You know, there are seniors that happen to be there
because you know, sheltered animals are not damaged. They just
have a situation that they wound up there. You know,
we can say this. We have to say this until
we're blue in the face because I will still run
into people who will say, oh, yeah, I don't want
to go to a shelter that's a damaged animal, And
I'm like, what does that mean? Like you're damage thinking that,
(13:34):
you know, like animals wind up there because of a situation.
Adopting a senior dog, it's coming house broken, it's probably
coming from a situation where its owner might have died,
and no, there's nobody there to take the poor animal. So,
you know, adopt a senior dog or a young adult
who isn't a puppy anymore, because many times puppies start
to grow and people go, oh, it's now a dog.
(13:57):
Oh that's a lot of work. Like yeah, so you know,
I love that you brought that up. It's a very
valid point that, yeah, puppies are a lot of work,
and there are plenty of other pets out there that
you can adopt and we'll give you just as much
love and fun and all the wonderful things that pets
bring into our life.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
So good point.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Sorry to get on my soapbox about it, but it's
just it really, you know, it's a pet peeve of mine.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
We have a saying, adopt, don't shop exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
There's a reason. There's a reason. So Michael, I love this.
I love that you're doing all this.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
And as you continue, do you feel like I mean,
but I guess it really it depends to weather wise.
Are there times of the year that are more busy
for you guys than not, or it's just it's constant
because life is constant, things are always happening.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
It's constant. I would say that we've had busy hurricane seasons. Sure,
seems like that's a very busy time of the year,
the fall, the late summer, it's a fall. Things slow
down a little bit around the holidays and in the winter.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Yeah, it's constant, especially with the with the endangered species
works that we do. We also do, as you mentioned,
the Steve turtles, but we also do wolves. Nice we
transport critically in danger wolves. We're in conversations about transporting tigers. Wow, okay,
believe it?
Speaker 3 (15:17):
No, Wow, that must be really cool.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Definitely, definitely, And and I was a little concerned when
they said that they don't necessarily sedate the tigers for transport.
That was a little concerning.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Sure, So that's interesting. I would I would think that
they have to be, but they don't. And do the
tigers fall asleep just like the dogs do?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I think they do. I think it's more about keeping
them happy on the trip.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Okay, And how do you do that with tigers.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
That's that's a good question. The other concerning thing is like,
we want to make sure that the veterinarian that comes
along is taking the enclosure. And I was concerned about
that because that means that it's the pilots in the
front the tiger cage and then the veterinarian hind Oh.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Yeah, you need the vets in between because they know
what to do. Yeah, no, that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Yeah, you know picture that visual Yeah, no, I.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Am, and that's why.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah, no, I am, And that's what I'm thinking because
not yes, because you want the vet in between because
in case the tiger gets a little bit unruly, the
vet can control it, as opposed to you don't need
a tiger in the in the pilot's area while you're flying.
That's that wouldn't be good for anyone or the animals
as well. Yeah, no, I get that, I get that,
but it's fascinating just I mean, I find I think
(16:32):
tigers are like one of the most beautiful animals, but
of course they're really scary too because they're wild animals.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, certainly majestic. I didn't realize that the US has
the most tigers in the world. We have like five
thousand tigers here and the rest of the world has
like thirty eight hundred. That was a statistic. They told me.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Wow, should I assume that they're not all in sanctuaries
and zoos and some are like the tiger king people,
those people around the country.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Unfortunately, a lot of the work that they do. This
is tigers in America. A lot of the work that
they do is seizures and yeah, confiscations from unruly characters
on the side of the you know, side of the road.
Yeah great, yeah, side of the road. Yeah. Not everybody's Shaquille.
Shaquille O'Neil apparently has two tigers.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Oh really interesting. Yeah, I didn't even realize that. Interesting.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, anyway, we're going on this tiger tiger tangent.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
No, but it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
It's fascinating because they are beautiful animals and it's nice
that you're involved with that, with tigers and wolves and
turtles and dogs. Okay, So the most important thing, though,
is because all of the work that you do, you know,
you survive on donations. So for anyone who is listening
right now, and it's the time of year where you know,
people are looking to give donations, and many people who
(17:45):
are listening right now, I know because my listeners are
very generous and always are looking to help. So that's
that's first and foremost. But I also know for other
people sometimes they look for places to donate before the
of the year for tax purposes. So it's kind of
win win for a charity. So for you, anyone who
(18:06):
is thinking about help being out can by going to
Pilots to the Rescue dot org and they can learn
about you and learn about your organization. They can volunteer
if they're in the Tri state area and they can drive.
But they can also make donations if someone because I
know there are people who are listening all over the country.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So Pilots to the Rescue dot org. Correct, Michael, that
makes sense.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yes, absolutely, welcome to donations. It's giving time of the
year and we appreciate all the support.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Well excellent, Well, I'll keep doing what you're doing, Michael Schneider.
I do appreciate you and all your work and all
your time and effort, and again, Pilots to the Rescue
dot org. And I definitely want to check in with
you sometime next year early next year and we can
see what else is going on with you, because I'm
sure you're going to have even more stories.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
So I thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Fantastic, looking forward to thank you. Maria. Sharon has never
been a grater
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Operator in this mot Seal Raider Varmgator
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