Animal shelters across the country are at capacity, and sometimes the best chance for these animals is to travel to find their forever homes. Pilots N Paws, a non-profit organization, works with volunteer pilots to fly dogs to new homes, even if it means crossing state lines.
Jere Fountain, a 90-year-old pilot from Richlands, is one of those volunteers.
“It’s a passion, and I always love to fly the little puppy dogs.”
Fountain has spent most of his life with his feet off the ground. His love for aviation began at a young age, and he started a company in 1975, spending 25 years in the aviation industry.
After serving in the Army and flying model planes in college, Fountain retired but wasn’t ready to give up flying. “Last year for instance, I flew over 500 hours as a pilot in command, and I have qualified to man a corporate jet,” he said.
The Pilots N Paws program combines Fountain’s two favorite things: pups and planes. “Her name is Lizzie, and she flies with me quite often she loves to fly,” he said of his own dog. When not flying with Lizzie, Fountain helps other dogs through the program. “The little puppies are, at least they have their—they get their forever home,” he said.
Liz Hurst, who works at the Jacksonville Airport, said, “There’s nobody around here that doesn’t know Jere.” She added, “There’s not a story that you wouldn’t want to listen to with Jere. He has a lot, and he is always on the go.”
Fountain plans to continue flying, saying he intends to keep at it until he is 100 years old.
https://wcti12.com/news/local/pilot-90-flies-dogs-to-new-homes-with-pilots-n-paws