A Southwest pilot helping to rescue shelter pets affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene ended up taking one of his fury passengers home with him.
Thanks to a partnership with Greater Good Charities, Southwest Airlines, and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, on October 12 Southwest Captain Matthew Prebish flew more than 150 animals from hurricane-ravaged shelters to find homes in the Midwest.
The animals, relocated from shelters in Tennessee and Florida, were transferred to LuckyDog’s South Carolina Rescue Campus in Florence, South Carolina, before taking the rescue flight to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin.
But one of them, a cute kitten named Avery, found his new family before the plane even landed. And with the captain, no less!
“It was love at 30,000 feet. I don’t think Captain Matt was expecting to adopt a hurricane evacuee from Tennessee when he agreed to fly this amazingly special flight, but some things are meant to be,” Lucky Dog CEO Mirah A. Horowitz said in a statement to People.
“Avery the kitten is definitely a Lucky Cat and was right at home with his new dad in the cockpit once we landed and parked. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue is extremely proud to have helped make this happy ending possible.”
Earlier in the week, Greater Good Charities delivered humanitarian aid, including shampoo, hygiene products, and emergency packs filled with mylar blankets, socks, laundry sheets, and more for families impacted by Helene in and around Asheville, North Carolina. The emergency packs were included in 6,000 pounds of aid items flown via Southwest Cargo free of charge.
“At Southwest Airlines, we lead with our Hearts to provide assistance where it is needed, and we were honored to lend an aircraft for this rescue flight to transport these animals to their forever homes,” Whitney Eichinger, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Southwest Airlines said in a statement. “We know there are many experiencing devastation due to the recent hurricanes, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help by delivering humanitarian supplies and making donations to partnering organizations.”