As Hurricane Milton approached last week, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue joined forces with Greater Good Charities to ensure the safety of vulnerable animals in the storm’s path. Their goal was to transport 145 shelter animals—both cats and dogs—away from high-risk areas in Florida to safe shelters in Milwaukee. With the support of Southwest Airlines, the animals were flown to safety, riding comfortably in the cabin. This life-saving mission not only helped protect these pets but also opened space in Florida shelters for animals displaced or injured by the hurricane’s impact.
“This was nothing short of magical,” said Mirah Horowitz, CEO of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, speaking to The Dodo. “The animals [got to] ride in the cabin.” The airline’s staff quickly bonded with the furry passengers, and even the pilot, Captain Matt Prebish, found himself smitten with one of the rescue animals—a curious kitten named Avery.
“She was so full of life and energy,” Prebish shared in a press release from Southwest Airlines. It didn’t take long for him to realize that saying goodbye to Avery wasn’t going to be easy. Though adopting a pet hadn’t been in his original plan, his wife seemed to have predicted otherwise.
“When I agreed to this flight, my wife told me she had a feeling I’d be coming back with a new pet,” Prebish admitted.
When the plane touched down in Milwaukee, a minor storm delayed passengers from disembarking for about 20 minutes. This gave Prebish just enough time to call his wife and ask if she was on board with him bringing home Avery. With her blessing, the paperwork for adoption was quickly set in motion—right there in the cabin.
“It wasn’t something we expected,” Horowitz recalled. “Everyone scrambled to get the adoption finalized.” By the time the flight back to Denver was ready, Prebish had officially welcomed Avery into his family, taking her home to start a new life together.
The pilot reflected on the joy of not only adopting Avery but also helping animals impacted by Hurricane Milton. “Moving these animals gave Florida shelters the space they needed to care for local pets displaced by the storm,” Prebish explained. “I’m grateful we could make a difference, and I hope every one of these animals finds their forever home.”
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As for Avery, she’s already settled into her new home with Prebish, where both are enjoying the first steps of a new chapter. Stories like this one are so uplifting! We are so grateful that these animals are safe and sound.