Past Trips
Flying with Purpose.
In just 5 flights, we have saved 49 animal’s lives!!
When you support Four-Legged Fliers you support animals who are in need. Our program connects pilots to overcrowded shelters across America. Bringing pets to a new shelter or home where there is more opportunity and space for them to be adopted and cared for before finding their FURever home.
Our First Journey
12/18/2020
East Hampton, NY to Camden, SC Round Trip on a Cirrus SR-22T.
Shelters: Foster Animal Rescue to ARF
All 15 dogs rescued were adopted.
Organizing an animal rescue mission is rarely a simple task, and never a task that can be accomplished by one single person. Having never organized an animal rescue mission before, Canavan reached out to the East Hampton Aviation Association (EHAA), an alliance of local pilots and aircraft owners for assistance. The late president of the EHAA, Kent Feurring, promptly responded to Canavan’s query and introduced him to local pilot and aircraft owner Brian La Belle. La Belle is an aviation addict and shares his impressive experiences and knowledge through his very popular social media handle “ThePilotAdventure.” Having experience rescuing animals and traveling far distances to do so, La Belle immediately offered himself and his aircraft to partake in the journey to/from South Carolina with Canavan. Yet another obstacle stood in the way of Canavan and La Belle, however: hazardous weather. Weather is not a new phenomenon to pilots, and is never a threat that should be underestimated. Knowing this, Canavan and La Belle realized that they needed to shield La Belle’s flashy Cirrus SR-22T aircraft overnight from the incoming snow/ice storm in order to leave on time. Coming to the rescue once again, president Feurring promptly located a heated hanger for the pilots to store the Cirrus in overnight. The following day the entire trip was executed without a hitch, and fifteen baby dogs not only managed to evade euthanasia, but soared all the way to New York where they were promptly adopted into their forever homes.
Our Second Journey
5/7/2021
East Hampton, NY to Rome, GA, Round Trip on a Cirrus SR-22T.
Shelters: PAWS to ARF
All 10 dogs rescued were adopted.
The second Four-Legged Fliers was brought to the organization’s attention in the spring of 2021 when ARF’s fantastically named rescue partner Public Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) of Rome, Georgia alerted ARF that they were severely overloaded with animals. Unfortunately, when shelters exceed their maximum capacity of animals, animal euthanasia ensues. ARF never saw this as an option and immediately alerted the Four-Legged Fliers family. On May 7th, 2021, hero Brian La Belle once again volunteered both himself and his powerful Cirrus SR-22T with President Canavan to venture down to Rome, Georgia. The trip was treacherous as the flight path was littered with thunderstorms, but the storms were no match for safe pilotage, a state-of-the-art aircraft, and a pressing desire to save ten baby dogs. The journey resulted in the swift rescue and adoption of ten gorgeous animals all thanks to the volunteer caregivers down at PAWS, the generous people of ARF, and the gift that is general aviation.
Our Third Journey
8/8/2021
Boca Raton, FL to Rome, GA, to East Hampton, NY, Round Trip on a Beechcraft Bonanza.
Shelters: PAWS to ARF
All 8 dogs rescued were adopted.
The Four-Legged Fliers and ARF teams were so impressed by the operation of the Public Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) that we were eager to work with them again! In similar fashion to the previous trip, PAWS reached out to ARF/Four-Legged Fliers in need of another animal transport to New York. On August 8th, 2021, President Canavan was gearing up to make another journey in the name of saving animals. This trip featured a new face, a new aircraft, and a new airport. Local pilot and friend of Canavan, Eric Lemonides immediately volunteered both himself and his timeless Beechcraft Bonanza to conduct the long journey. Not only does Lemonides split his time between southern Florida and Long Island, New York, but so does his airplane. To make the journey happen, Canavan airlined down to Florida the day prior to meet Lemonides, and began the trek to Rome, Georgia early the following day. The duo were blessed with clear skies and tailwinds the entirety of the trip. Making phenomenal time to Rome, the incredible volunteers of PAWS assisted in loading eight homeless animals into the mighty bonanza, and then they were airborne. Some of said animals were well dressed in adorable pilot goggles and hats. Only several hours and one fuel stop later, the puppy-filled airplane touched down at East Hampton Airport to the greeting of dozens of friends, family, and animal lovers. Each of the animals were adopted very shortly after medical clearances.
Our Fourth Journey
3/15/2022
Boca Raton, FL to Natchitoches, LA, to East Hampton, NY, Round Trip on a Beechcraft Bonanza.
Shelters: Natchitoches Human Society to ARF
All 5 dogs rescued were adopted.
The fourth Four-Legged Fliers trip was numerous months in the making before it was finally conducted on March 15th, 2022. The challenge with this trip was that it was significantly further than previous trips, but the distance was no match for the will of a Four-Legged Fliers pilot! Once again soaring the southern skies was Eric Lemonides’ Beechcraft Bonanza piloted by President Canavan. Lemonides accompanied Canavan from Boca Raton all the way to Atlanta Hartsfield Airport where Lemonides departed, and then student/friend of Canavan, Jan Brentjens, joined. The new duo flew from Atlanta all the way to the difficult to pronounce Natchitoches, Louisiana where the partner shelter Natchitoches Humane Society resides. The shelter was kind enough to house Canavan and Brentjens overnight to rest and wait out the storms once again littering the eastern seaboard. After hours and thorough discussions with weather experts and each other, Canavan and Brentjens finally decided to get the wheels in the air back for Long Island, New York. The mighty bonanza once again took to the skies, this time with four puppies, one massive mastiff named Zeus, and two authentic Natchitoches meat pies to serve as the inflight meal for the pilots. Catching significantly fast tailwinds and dodging significantly hazardous storms, the team finally made it to East Hampton Airport about eight hours later with merely one fuel stop in Kentucky! This story would not be complete without commemorating the rescue mastiff named Zeus who’s blood had saved numerous dogs in need back in Louisiana. Upon reaching New York, each of the five dogs were adopted almost immediately, some of which had committed adopters before the plane even landed!
Our Fifth Journey
11/21/2022
East Hampton, NY to Santa Fe, NM, Round Trip on a Beechcraft Bonanza and Cessna 182.
Shelters: Española Humane to ARF
All 9 dogs rescued were adopted.
The furthest trip piloted by Four-Legged Fliers to date took place back in November of 2022. Taking multiple planes, multiple pilots, and months of planning, four selfless pilots journeyed from East Hampton, New York all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then all the way back. The first plane to arrive in Santa Fe was piloted by Jan Brentjens and his student Matthew Pellegrino in Eric Lemonides’ famous Beechcraft Bonanza. Not long after, pilot Dr. George Dempsey accompanied by his pilot friend David Reinbach arrived in Dempsey’s elegant Cessna 182 Skylane. This rescue of seven puppies was brought to the attention of Four-Legged Fliers through Dr. Dempsey’s family’s affiliation with the wonderful Española Humane Society located in Española, New Mexico. This batch of animals consisted of one devoted mother dog, and her six adorable puppies. Each of the puppies were adopted very shortly after their flight, but the mother is currently living in foster care and in need of a forever home.
