Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team to save its 10,000th animal

A Pittsburgh area nonprofit that provides free air and ground transportation for at-risk animals is reaching an impressive milestone.

The Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team, which transports everything from dogs and cats to sea turtles, rats and butterflies, will save its 10,000th animal this weekend.

“This milestone is a tribute to teamwork,” said Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team co-founder Brad Childs. “Our volunteers are ready to swing into action on a moment’s notice to give animals a second chance.”

The milestone will be reached with a joint air and land transport mission from shelters in Morgan County, West Liberty, and Hazel, Kentucky as well as from rescue groups along Kentucky’s southwest border in Tennessee. More than 25 dogs in danger of being euthanized will board PAART’s airplane and rescue truck and make the trip to Pittsburgh, where the animals will be placed in ”furever” homes.

The air and land teams are scheduled to arrive at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

“Each time we deploy on a rescue mission we face risks,” said PAART co-founder Jonathan Plesset. “The reward for our team is in knowing that each of these animals can change a person’s life for the better.”