Southwest Airlines Sandy Rescuers Receive 2013 Humane Award

June 24, 2013 • Rescue

A wonderful example of “giving back” after Hurricane Sandy leaves it’s mark on animal loving organizations!

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.  – On  Tuesday, June 18th, Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms and Vice President of Development Renee Resko traveled  to Dallas, Texas to present Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly and Southwest Employees with the 2013 Humane Award.  The presentation was made at the organization’s Winning Spirit Awards, concluding with the prestigious distinction honoring the entire Southwest team who assisted with the November 2012 Hurricane Sandy rescue of 47 orphan pets.

The story made national news as stranded orphaned dogs and cats (from Save A Pet on Long Island and from New Jersey shelters rescued by Delaware County SPCA) were flown across the country to Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe on November 17th.  The East Coast shelter pets had been waiting for forever homes when the storm hit and left their facilities uninhabitable.   With remaining East Coast shelters reaching full-capacity and unable to provide resources for all of the homeless pets in need, Helen Woodward Animal Center hoped to take them in but lacked the resources to transport the orphan pets to the West Coast.  The missing link arrived in an impressive 48-hour turn-around with a chartered plane coordinated by Center friend, John Reilly, President of Sea World San Diego, and donated by the generous leadership at Southwest Airlines.  BP who provides Southwest’s fuel donated nearly 5,000 gallons of fuel to the life-saving flight, as well.  The Southwest aircraft was staffed with an animal-loving crew of pilots and flight attendants, each of whom donated their time and hearts to the homeless dogs and cats.

 

For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center or the Hurricane Sandy rescues, please visit www.animalcenter.org.

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