“I’ve saved 753 dogs and counting…”
Animal lover Paul Steklenski devotes his life to rescuing dogs in his pooch-friendly plane
Since learning to s fly in 2013, Paul Steklenski has single-handedly saved 753 dogs from dying in overcrowded animal shelters by flying them to new homes.
The IT worker, who has spent over £28,000 of his savings on his mission, says: “Dogs are the most amazing animals and it’s such a great feeling to know I’ve managed to help a few.”
Paul was first inspired to help dogs after getting his rescue Labrador/rottweiler cross, Tessa, from a local shelter in August 2013.
“When I learned that she’d been part of a litter saved by volunteers at a Tennessee shelter that was so overcrowded it routinely put down dogs, I knew I had to do something,” says Paul, 45, who lives in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, USA.
After doing more research, Paul learned that there were many animal groups looking for help to transport dogs to the northern states of America, where shelters don’t euthanise.
Paul had recently begun to learn to fly and vowed to help once he qualified.
In November 2014, a month after he gained his flying licence, he hired a plane to conduct his first rescue flight. His first passenger was a Pitbull called Kuno and Paul flew him to New York.
Paul said: “It felt so good knowing he was on his way to a happier life.”
From then on, Paul began regularly hiring planes to fly to Virginia, where volunteers would deliver dogs to him.
pup, pup and away!
In March 2015, Paul decided to set up his own charity, Flying Fur Animal Rescue and, two years later, he’d raised enough money to buy a plane.
Paul says: “We had donations from all over the world and we were able to purchase a five-seater light aircraft for £54,000. The rear seats have been removed so we can now fit up to 23 dogs at a time in crates, plus one sitting in the front with me.”
Now, Paul conducts up to 30 flights a year. He says: “I like to greet every dog personally before we load them on to the plane and once we’re up in the air they usually just fall asleep in their crates or look out the window.
“One dog safely sits in the front with me and usually snuggles up for the trip. It’s heart-breaking when the dogs have been abused. One pup, a scrawny mongrel called Henley, had been so badly treated he cried as I tried to help him on to the plane. But I visited him a few weeks later in his new home and he was able to play and cuddle me – it was just amazing to see.”
Last month, Paul rescued a litter of five puppies and a beagle named Adrianne, who was hours from being put down as she had a prolapsed bladder from being abused.
He says: “She was able to have surgery the next day, which saved her life – and weeks later we were able to save her brother too. They were so happy to see each other.”
life after rescue
Paul loves hearing how the rescued dogs are settling into their new homes.
He says: “I often discover it’s not just the dogs whose lives are improved immensely but also those of the people who adopt them.”
Luckily, Paul’s wife Michelle, 46, who also works in IT, is a big dog lover too.
Paul reveals: “We never got round to having children so the dogs are like our kids and, thankfully, Michelle really supports what I do.”
One day Paul hopes to buy a property with enough land to build his own airstrip and rescue facility. But for now, he’ll continue to rescue as many pooches as he can.
He adds: “It’s the best job in the world!”