FLYING FUR ANIMAL RESCUE

Pilot PAUL STEKLENSKI, with his aircraft and bus, has helped save over 2,500 animals.

Our readers met Paul Steklenski back in the March 2017 issue, where he explained, “I started flying lessons in the spring of 2013. I drove by an airport on the way to work every morning. I decided to go for a flying lesson, and I just kept going back. It took me about a year and a half to finish. It’s expensive to get your license, so I just took my time.

“Not long after that, I started using my plane to move rescue dogs from kill shelters in the South and bring them up to no-kill shelters in the North. When I first started, my Facebook page was called ‘Just a guy who flies rescue.’”

A lot has changed since then. Paul is both a licensed pilot and animal lover and saw the need for an organization that could transport animals to safety quickly and efficiently. He began by transporting animals in his own plane and soon realized there was a much greater need for this service than he had originally anticipated.

Today Flying Fur Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of animals in need by transporting them to safe and loving homes across the United States. The organization Paul founded has grown rapidly and now operates in multiple states with a team of dedicated volunteers and supporters. Annually, Paul spends over $10,000 a year out of his own pocket to help save more lives. “We have no administrative overhead, salaries, or extra costs,” he adds. The organization uses a variety of methods to transport animals, including private planes, ground transport, and even commercial airlines. They work closely with animal shelters and rescue organizations nationwide to identify animals in danger of being euthanized or that need to be relocated to find a forever home.

Flying Fur Animal Rescue has a dedicated team of volunteers who work tirelessly to coordinate and execute animal transports. The volunteers help with everything from organizing logistics to coordinating with shelters and rescues and caring for animals during transport.

Flying Fur has been recognized for its outstanding work in animal rescue, receiving numerous awards. In 2018, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce named it Nonprofit of the Year.

In addition to saving the lives of animals, Flying Fur Animal Rescue also educates the public about the importance of animal rescue and the benefits of adopting pets from shelters and rescues. The organization also provides resources for those interested in getting involved with animal rescue.