Cloud Nine Animal Rescue Flights: Transporting Homeless Dogs and Cats

Cloud Nine Animal Rescue is a small company that provides a big service. They conduct long-distance dog and cat rescue flights to locations all over North America. A registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Cloud Nine is committed to offering flights to those in need at no cost, focusing primarily on animal welfare and especially on homeless animal rescue.

Ted DuPuis's brainchild, Cloud Nine Animal Rescue

A pilot, Ted DuPuis was working to log the flight time necessary to qualify for Angel Flight missions. As he volunteered with Animal Rescue Flights (ARF), he recognized a need to transport large numbers of pets concurrently, over long distances. There was a gap in this area because the volunteer pilots that flew for established animal rescue operations like Pilots 'n Paws and ARF were not outfitted to transport multiple animals on long flights. Identifying this need inspired DuPuis; he founded Cloud Nine Animal Rescue in 2009.

In a single flight, Cloud Nine can move between 10 and 30 dogs and cats for distances of greater than 700 miles one-way, serving an important role in the transportation of animals in need.

These homeless pets are moved from overcrowded shelters or puppy mills and taken to foster groups and animal adoption agencies. Cloud Nine Animal Rescue helps with two main issues facing unwanted animals:

Animal overpopulation in specific geographical areas

Pet overpopulation creates problems, and this situation is more prevalent in specific areas in North America. The Humane Society of the United States estimates the number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year is 3-4 million, other animal welfare agencies estimate the number at upwards of 7-9 million. Animal overpopulation is the primary reason these large numbers of pets have to be put down annually.

With no place for homeless animals to go, neighborhood animal shelters are often forced to euthanize the pets they cannot accommodate or find a home for. In many cases, these pets are highly adoptable but they're in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lack of proper veterinary care in particular areas of the country

There are places in the Untied States where veterinary care is not available. In these places, the problem of animal overpopulation is exacerbated because there are few (or no) clinics that can perform spaying or neutering procedures.

Organized events around the country move large numbers of homeless animals to locations where 1) there are more facilities available to shelter the unwanted pets and 2) there is more / better veterinary care available for the dogs and cats.

Cloud Nine's animal service record

Cloud Nine's first operation was part of an event called The Georgia Puppy Caravan. This event transported a shelter full of dogs from Georgia to New Jersey via cars and airplanes. Cloud Nine's founder and chief pilot, Ted DuPuis, flew two trips as part of the puppy transport. He relocated 40 dogs in total.

With a staff of 10 volunteers (including three pilots), Cloud Nine Animal Rescue has flown over 40 rescue flights since The Georgia Puppy Caravan. To date, more than 400 homeless animals have benefitted from the services of Cloud Nine. And the number keeps growing.

Sources and additional reading:

Cloud Nine Animal Rescue
The Georgia Puppy Caravan
The National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy
HSUS Pet Overpopulation Estimates
Airline Owners and Pilots Association Magazine