MILWAUKEE, WI — As Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the U.S. East Coast, hundreds of displaced animals found an unlikely hero: Southwest Airlines Captain Matthew Prebish, who piloted an emergency flight transporting 145 cats and dogs to safety.
The lifesaving mission, organized by Greater Good Charities in partnership with Southwest Airlines and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, relocated animals from shelters in hurricane-affected regions of Eastern Tennessee and Florida. The pets were temporarily housed at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue’s South Carolina campus before being flown to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where eight Midwest shelters will prepare them for adoption.
A Rescue Flight Takes Off
Shelter staff nationwide worked tirelessly to protect animals in the storms’ path, but evacuation became the only option for many. Southwest Airlines provided the aircraft, while approximately 60 volunteers assisted in the operation.
“At Southwest Airlines, we lead with our hearts to provide assistance where it’s needed,” said Whitney Eichinger, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer. “We were honored to lend an aircraft for this rescue flight.”
When Prebish learned of the mission, he immediately volunteered to fly the plane. But little did he know, one passenger would steal his heart.
A Furry Co-Pilot
After landing, Prebish noticed a curious four-month-old kitten named Avery peering from her crate.
“I opened the crate to let her see if she’d come out,” Prebish recalled. “Immediately, her head popped out—she just had this personality, like she wanted to explore the world.”
The adventurous kitten now joins Prebish’s Texas home, where she lives with three furry siblings: Smalls the cat, Tahoe the Labrador retriever, and Wrigley the golden retriever. Avery is the first animal from the rescue flight to be adopted.
How to Help
Midwest residents interested in adopting pets from the mission can contact the following shelters:
Wisconsin:
- Humane Animal Welfare Society
- Elmbrook Humane Society
- Washington County Humane Society
- Humane Society of Jefferson County
- Dane County Humane Society
- Eau Claire Community Humane Association
- Green County Humane Society
Illinois:
One Tail at a Time
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