from South Carolina to Syracuse, N.Y. - dogs rescued from euth

Animal rescuer airlifts York County strays
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By Jason Foster - jfoster@heraldonline.com Ted DuPuis doesn't want animals to die just because no one wants them, so the 25-year-old Pennsylvania man has made it his mission to save as many as he can from being euthanized.
Since August, DuPuis has taken to the skies to rescue animals from Southern states where animal overpopulation has led to high euthanasia rates. He flies them back up North, where spay and neuter laws have kept the pet population under control, so they can be adopted into new homes.
Today, DuPuis' Cloud Nine Rescue Flights will transport 17 dogs from the Rock Hill area to Syracuse, N.Y. It's his fourth trip to rescue animals from York County.
“I'm willing to do it as often as it takes,” said DuPuis, an engineer by trade. “I want to see as many animal lives saved as possible.”
The program works like this: Local representatives from the Animal Adoption League identify unwanted animals in danger of being euthanized and find shelters up North that will take them in to be adopted. DuPuis then provides the animals' transportation to their new environment. He's taken as many as 22 animals on a single flight.
“I can't say enough good things about it,” said Kylie Troy of Charlotte, volunteer transport coordinator for the adoption league. “Without him, we would really have a hard time moving them up North.”
The flights are provided for free, meaning the nonprofit relies on donations to reach its goal of 40 flights per year. Each flight costs upwards of $2,000 for plane rental, gas and other needs. DuPuis doesn't take a salary.
In addition to transporting animals, Cloud Nine also works with organizations to transport children and adults for medical treatment.
“It's a lot of work on a number of different fronts,” DuPuis said of organizing the transports.
Cloud Nine and other similar programs provide a valuable service, said Chris Peninger, supervisor of York County Animal Control.
“We do have a huge issue here with animal overpopulation,” she said. “Animals fill up shelters in our area very, very quickly.
York County Animal Control takes in an average of about 800 animals per month. Last month, rescues and adoptions totaled just 148, while 446 animals were euthanized.
“It's a very different way to get animals out of shelters and into homes,” Peninger said of rescue flights.
These programs are a “win-win-win” for everyone involved, she said: The local shelters win because it frees up room, the shelters up North win because they can offer pets for adoption, and the pets win because they avoid being put down.
“It doesn't get much better than that.”
Jason Foster 803-329-4066