Sometimes we’re so busy flying around in these amazing machines we all call home, or the office, or simply the plane that we no longer see the heart beating inside. It’s easy to get caught up in the media hype and even downplay using or working on a private jet.
I had an experience last weekend that will make you all walk a little taller if you have anything to do with this industry:
On a beautiful morning on the ramp at Global Exec Aviation in Long Beach just before sunrise, 60 small crates with 60 small dogs were neatly lined up below a GIII waiting to be loaded, with their foster parents looking on. They were leaving California to find their “fur-ever” family through the combined efforts of a great organization: Orange Dog and the Edmonton (Canada) Humane Society.
Captain Ramon Manriquez, F.O. Dan Rosenbaum and Orange Dog Founder, Jan Folk
Orange Dog founder, Jan Folk was busy going from carrier to carrier getting to know each of her guests personally before boarding – and so was I. Jan had learned that there was a demand for these small dogs in Edmonton; she also knew that the shelters in southern California where she lives were overflowing with these little cuties, with little hope for adoption. It just seemed natural to her to load up a plane and take as many as she could up there the right way instead of shipping them in cargo. This was her fifth trip.
I learned about Orange Dog’s Freedom Flights and offered the help of Sit ‘n Stay Global, since we specialize in flight attendants who work on private jets and are specifically trained in Pet Safety Protocols, Pet First Aid and CPR. Jan was kind enough to accept my offer and I was honored to be included as a guest on this most recent Freedom Flight. What an amazing experience! The feeling of something “good” happening was pervasive. Everyone worked together; every step of the process went smoothly since everyone had the same goal in mind.
Once in the air you might think it was a bit chaotic with 60 pups on board, but a wonderful sense of calm descended upon the cabin in flight. It was as if they knew something good was happening. A few of them had a bit to say, but like any human passenger they calmed right down if I just went back and listened to them for a few minutes. Truly, it was far calmer than a full flight of humans to Teterboro . . .
We landed to one of the most joyous celebrations I have ever seen. It out-did most rock star arrivals . . . these pups were home! I thought some of them would be adopted before they left the ramp. They all took it in their stride, seeming to know that this was the best day of the rest of their life. There were volunteers everywhere that scooped them up and took them off to the Edmonton Humane Society which is a truly amazing facility that revolutionizes how animals are treated in shelters. I learned they wouldn’t last long there though, due to the amazing work the EHS and Orange Dog had done to get the word out that these dogs were on their way. There was actually a waiting list for each dog that had gone from virtually unadoptable to rock star in a single day. All it took was someone caring enough to use what they had available to make a difference.
So take a long look at that beautiful shiny tube as you approach it next time and realize what truly important things it can accomplish. Sure, we get a lot of business done up there and it is a great convenience and time saver. It enhances security and cuts all sorts of red tape, but it can also be used as a real instrument for good and can change lives and we can each be a part of it. Believe me, it feels really good!
By Carol Martin
Carol Martin is the owner and top dog at Sit ‘n Stay. Their firm includes licensed Flight Attendants with extensive experience on commercial and private jets offering exquisite in-flight service as part of their Pet Nanny Service. They coordinate all of the catering and pamper with luxurious, elegant in-flight service that starts and ends your trip on the right note. Best of all, they will cater specifically for your pet so he or she feels like an important guest as well! For more information on her company, click the banner below.
Jan Folk is the founder of Orange Dog and has recently opened a new restaurant thats assists with the Freedom Flights. Located in beautiful Huntington Beach, California, The Orange Dog Bar and Grill seats 140 people with a warm and inviting ambiance, California style. Their menu consists of something for everyone from our famous Wings of the World™, Burgers and Fries, to Pulled Pork Quesadilla and Fresh Fish and Salads, not to mention our featured Canadian dessert Nanaimo Bar. They offer big screens for viewing ease and fantastic nightly entertainment. You’ll notice the dog theme throughout: from their logo to their dog wall as well as the selection of Orange Dog products for purchase to help the Freedom Flights. The name embraces the Orange Dog which makes this restaurant, one of a kind: “A Restaurant With a Cause.” For more information, you may visit their website at http://www.orangedogbarandgrill.com/ or click their banner below!
To learn more about Freedom Flights visit: http://www.OrangeDog.CA
