COURT HOUSE — Two local pilots are putting their passion to work and making a real difference for some of man’s best friends. Craig Johnston of Ocean City and Barry Mastrangelo of Stone Harbor, took to the skies to rescue eight Weimaraners from a shelter in Washington, NC, where the dogs faced certain euthanasia due to overcrowding.
Johnston and Mastrangelo’s mission of mercy was part of the Pilots N Paws program, a web-based message system linking volunteer pilots with rescue groups to save some of the thousands of unwanted animals across the country.
The pair of pilots flew to Warren Field in Washington, NC, where they met with Mary McDonald of Inner Banks Canine Rescue to pick up two adult female Weimaraners, Shadow and Phoenix, along with Phoenix’s six newborn puppies.
Johnston and Mastrangelo flew all eight dogs back to Cape May County Airport, where the canines were transferred to another plane flown by volunteer pilot Charlie Lejambre and his wife Cindy Wood. This second flight would carry the dogs to Bradley International Windsor Locks, CT, to be united with their new adoptive families.
In just a year the Pilots N Paws program has grown from one to 115 pilots who have flown almost 200 sheltered and abandoned dogs hundreds of miles to safety. For Shadow, Phoenix and her six little pups, Johnston and Mastrangelo’s efforts meant a chance at a new life in loving homes.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
