Norwalker gives new meaning to puppy love

The passengers on the flights of pilots Julia Ryan and Clark Burgard don't complain about the temperature inside the cabin, cramped foot space or the price of drinks.

However they might bark and meow once in a while.

For their efforts transporting dogs and cats across the country through their volunteer organization Animal Rescue Flights (ARF), Ryan, a Norwalk resident, and Burgard, have received the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Presidential Service Award.

The pilots created the non-profit, charitable organization in Norwalk to transport unwanted animals from shelters to other places in the country where people are waiting to adopt them. Both Ryan and Burgard coordinate the flight plans for animal transportation.

"We received an e-mail from a woman who had a couple of dogs to get to Connecticut," Ryan said of ARF's inception.

"We thought it was a great idea, and we ran with it."

Since its start in 2008, ARF and its 700 members have transported more than 1,000 animals on over 600 flights across more than 150,000 miles.

Participating pilots, some of whom own their planes, devote their time and fuel to the cause, Ryan said.

Ryan became a pilot in 2004. Burgard has been a pilot since 2001.

"Clark and I are both aircraft owners. We fly for fun. Our jobs have nothing to do with aviation. Clark works in internet media--he owns his own business--and I work for a commodity trading company," Ryan said.

Though 10 to 15 percent of the dogs and cats fly ARF because they require access to medical treatment, most are transported because they need a home. Many of the animals come from the south, where more shelters suffer from insufficient space, Ryan added.

"We'll set up a flight plan that might involve four or five pilots, where each might do a leg of 200 miles," she explained. "It's kind of like a relay....And it's important because it helps reduce the amount of adoptable animals that are being euthanized."

Those requesting the services of ARF fill out a form from the organization's website, www.animalresuceflights.org. The form requires size and weight descriptions of the animals, as space on planes can be limited.

In addition to transporting animals in need, the members of ARF focus on educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

"We'd love the day that animal rescue flights are disbanded," Ryan said.

Ryan has helped transport plenty of interesting passengers over the past two years. There was a 160-pound English Mastiff, whose owner lived in an apartment she deemed too small to support the massive animal.

"She cried when we picked him up," Ryan said.

And then there was Cooper, a dog whose hind legs had been maimed in an accident. Cooper uses a specialized dog wheelchair to get around. He now lives with a caring family attentive to the needs of a partially disabled dog.

"A lot of pilots couldn't believe how happy he was," Ryan said.

ARF even received the unusual request to transport a manatee from Boston Harbor to warmer waters.

The manatee, thankfully, found its own way home.

The ASPCA's annual Humane Awards luncheon--sponsored by The Hartville Group, one of America's oldest pet health insurers--will be held on Thursday, Nov. 11, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. The ceremony recognizes animal heroes who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts, as well as individuals who have made a significant impact on the lives of animals during the past year. Following a nationwide call to the public for nominations in February, an ASPCA-appointed committee reviewed hundreds of entries and selected winners in six categories.

"After reading through hundreds of nominations, the ASPCA selected Julia and Clark of Animal Rescue Flights for the Presidential Service Award because they have made such a significant impact on the lives of shelter animals across this country," said Sean O'Connor, vice president of special giving for the ASPCA. "Their efforts to coordinate flight plans and safely transport homeless animals to their permanent homes is truly admirable."

The ASPCA, founded in 1866 and now one million supporters strong, is the first humane organization established in the Americas, and serves as the nation's leading voice for animal welfare.