Pet Airways Takes Off
After four years of planning, a new all-pet airline has finally taken off. On July 14, Pet Airways took its virgin flight from a small airport in Farmingdale, New York. For now, the airline serves only New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles, but owners Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel intend to expand service to 25 locations within the first three years.
Each of the company’s Suburban Air Freight planes sport pet carriers in place of seats and can accommodate about 50 pets. Dogs are given pre-flight walks and potty breaks, and the small airports that serve Pet Airways have created pet lounges for the comfort of four-legged clients. The animals are personally escorted to the plane and are checked every 15 minutes while in the air.
One-way flights cost $200-300 per pet, but many dog lovers will consider the peace of mind well worth it. For more information or to book a flight, visit www.petairways.com.
$200,000 Contest to Aid Pet Charities
Food Network cooking star Rachael Ray has launched a pet charity contest, “Mutt Madness,” modeled after basketball’s March Madness format. The first step is finding 64 candidates to compete for the title of most deserving pet cause in the country.
You can make nominations at www.rachelray.com/muttmadness through September 30.
Each of the top 64 groups will receive $1,000. Online voting will determine the winners in the next several rounds, with some candidates being eliminated as others remain. The final voting showdown is worth $25,000 for second place and $50,000 for the winner. The champ will be announced in early December, Ray said.
The competition is in part a promotional effort for Ray’s new line of dog food and treats, Rachael Ray Nutrish. All of her personal earnings from sale of these products goes to Rachael’s Rescue (www.rachelrescue.org), an organization dedicated to medical care and training for animals in need, as well as public education efforts that promote adoption of shelter animals. Last year, Rachael’s Rescue had $400,000 to work with.
Ray has said that her humane campaign was inspired by a Pit Bull named Boo, her first dog, who died a few years ago. Her current Pit Bull companion, Isaboo, is the mascot for the Nutrish brand.
Whats Next for Michael Vick?
Disgraced NFL star Michael Vick completed his 23-month federal dog-fighting sentence on July 23, having served the last two months of it at his home in Virginia. Vick will be on probation for the next three years. Though he has served his time, he has yet to publicly express remorse, and many animal lovers feel he has not paid a high enough price for his cruel deeds.
Nevertheless, Vick’s career in football appears safe. He was conditionally reinstated to the National Football League by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and although his old team, The Atlanta Falcons, released him from his contract, he soon signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Many expressed outrage, but Ed Sayres, President and CEO of the American SPCA, was merely stern. “The ASPCA expects Mr. Vick to express remorse for his actions,” he said, “as well as display more compassion and sound judgment this time around than he did during his previous tenure with the NFL.”
Woman Arrested in Shelter-Break
Loving dog guardian or criminal? You decide. Jessica Johnson, a Casper, Wyoming woman whose Pit Bull was deemed a vicious animal and taken to the city shelter, was sentenced to 45 days in jail for attempting to retrieve her pet.
The 26-year-old told the judge she felt her dog had been unfairly classified and that she had tried to break him out of the shelter because she feared he would be euthanized.
Johnson was charged with misdemeanor property destruction and criminal entry after she broke a window at the shelter and freed the dog, who had been confiscated the previous day when Johnson ran from a traffic stop.
No other dogs were freed.
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