Former soldier travels the US plane to save livestock from extermination
After learning to fly, an American decided to travel by plane to save the dogs and cats from the slaughter. To this day, he says he has saved more than 700 animals.
It was after adopting a bitch, Tessa, that former soldier Paul Steklenski found his new mission: to save animals from being slaughtered.
Initially, the North American, from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, considered doing so by road. But as he began learning to fly in 2013, as a hobby, he changed his plans. When he obtained the license, he decided that he would make the rescue "by air".
In May 2015, he founded the Flying Fur Animal Rescue. The man, 45, bought a plane, for almost 56 thousand euros, which filled with shipping boxes. The aircraft can carry up to 23 dogs or cats. The goal for the future is to buy a plane with greater capacity.
To this day, Paul Steklenski says he has already saved 742 animals.
"Seeing the dogs in the kennels broke my heart. It was horrible to think that there were so many animals suffering from euthanasia because they were trapped in a certain place, "said the former soldier.
Each trip costs between 340 and 515 euros and the project lives on its own financing: Paul Steklenski spends more than 8.5 thousand euros each year on his own pocket. The American has been calling for donations from the public.
The founder of the Flying Fur Animal Rescue, which has since adopted a second dog, Layla, takes one day a month to fly to kennels, picking up some dogs and cats, and then delivering them to shelters that do not practice euthanasia. "It's an extremely emotional job, but very rewarding," he says.
"When the engine starts working, they fall asleep or stay awake looking out the window. I have the feeling that they know better things will happen to them, "he concludes.
Source: Jornal de Notícias / maintained the original Lusitanian spelling
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