By NICOLE KELLER

Special to The Press

Pilots To The Rescue, a New York City based nonprofit organization recently flew eight cats from Saint Frances Animal Center in Georgetown, S.C., to the Freedom First Animal Rescue in the Lehigh Valley, so they could have a better chance of adoption.

Pilots To The Rescue transports at-risk animals from under-resourced shelters and takes them to rescue and adoption centers where they can be cared for, fostered and placed with loving families.

The eight cats on the Nov. 20 flight were joined by eight dogs and seven puppies who went to New Jersey-based shelters.

One of the kittens on the rescue flight was Oreo.

He was found by a shelter employee in South Carolina dragging his leg up the stairs of a country store in rural Georgetown County.

His leg is completely shattered and could not be repaired. A total amputation was needed and that was above what the shelter had in its medical budget.

Oreo will now receive the care he needs at Freedom First Animal Rescue, Lehigh Valley, and will be available for adoption once he has healed.

Michael Schneider, a commercial pilot, started the organization in 2015 to combine his passion for aviation and dedication to saving animals, led the flight that took off from Essex County Airport around 9 a.m. that day to South Carolina and arrived back in New Jersey in the late afternoon.

From there, the cats and dogs were transported to shelters.

“Millions of animals are euthanized simply because shelters don’t have enough space to care for them,” Scheider said. “By transporting pets to available shelters by air, we put them in position to quickly find new homes and loving families. We fly to save lives.”

The mission is sponsored by Hartz Loving Paws, the shelter outreach program of leading pet care brand Hartz.

The partnership between Pilots to the Rescue and Hartz Loving Paws has already raised more than $20,000 for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.