WINTER PARK, Fla. — Puppy Rescue Flights, a Winter Park-based nonprofit, has transported more than 12,000 rescued animals from overcrowded shelters in Alabama to adoption partners across Florida since its founding in 2010.
The 501(c)(three) organization relies on volunteer pilots and ground crews to fly dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens to Florida receiving shelters where adoption opportunities are higher. In 2025, the group transported approximately 1,100 animals, averaging about 35 animals per month.
Puppy Rescue Flights was created by founder, president, and pilot Michael Young around the belief that rescued animals deserve the opportunity to live safe lives.
Young established the nonprofit to move animals away from areas with limited adoption options. “Dogs are precious creatures with emotions that take care of people and should find homes to live out a beautiful life,” Young said. “My motto is, ‘Leave no pup behind.’”
A typical aircraft used by the organization carries between 15 and 20 animals per flight, depending on the plane size and mission parameters. Larger coordinated transport missions have brought together up to nine aircraft operating across state lines, utilizing volunteer flight crews and ground support teams.
Brian DiDea serves as the vice president of flight operations for Puppy Rescue Flights. DiDea oversees the logistical process of moving rescued animals into areas with available shelter space. “For us, it’s pretty simple: every puppy deserves a chance,” DiDea said. “We fly them from Alabama to Central Florida, where rescue partners have room to take them in and help them find their forever families.”
The organization’s Florida transport network includes receiving partners in Orlando, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Oviedo, Sanford, Tampa, Lakeland, Palm Harbor, and West Palm Beach.
Beyond flight transportation, the nonprofit coordinates food, supplies, medications, and veterinary treatment during the transit process. Partnering receiving shelters provide additional medical care, spay and neuter services, foster care placements, and permanent adoption processing.
The organization also supports programs to increase access to spay and neuter services in rural Alabama communities to address pet overpopulation.
Operational expenses such as aircraft fuel, animal food, medications and veterinary care are funded entirely through donations.
Tammy Haven Long serves as the vice president of administration for the organization. “Every dollar that we receive goes back into the next flight so that we can save more pups,” Long said. “I am so grateful to our donors because they give us the opportunity to continue these rescue missions.”
Donors can contribute toward individual flight legs or fund entire rescue missions. The nonprofit also accepts volunteer ground crew members and encourages community members to adopt or foster animals through its network of rescue partners.
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