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Flights to Furever T-shirts help bring in funds




Custom Ink
A model of the Flights to Furever T-shirt in Dusty blue, being sold on the Custom Ink site as a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Uvalde program, which transports homeless dogs from Uvalde to New York rescue organizations for adoption.

Those looking to show off their support of the Humane Society of Uvalde Flights to Furever program may now purchase a T-shirt for $25 to help raise money to transport unwanted Uvalde pooches to forever homes via New York-based animal rescue partners.

The program, staffed by volunteers, has transported 1,395 dogs, over approximately seven years, to new homes.

The official Flights to Furever T-shirt is available in two unisex colors, dusty blue or gray, in sizes ranging from extra small to XXXL, and a peach racerback tank top is also being sold, with all proceeds going directly to helping more pets.

The shirts will be available for at least two more weeks. The group had sold 41 by Monday, out of a stated goal of 100. Also as of Monday, the group had raised $670 on the T-shirt sale website, which allows customers to make additional donations with the purchase.

To view the page or purchase a T-shirt, visit Custom Ink, tinyurl.com/y7l2cle3.

Heather Stunkel

Heather Stunkel, who started the nonprofit 501(c)(3) FTF program in 2013, said they have transported 398 dogs so far this year, and currently have approximately 50 in foster care waiting for their freedom ride. The next flight is planned for July 25, and a ground transport is being organized in August.

The name comes from when Stunkel started the program, as back then Uvalde canines would fly to western New York, where Stunkel previously lived and has rescue organization contacts.

The program officially became affiliated with the Humane Society of Uvalde in 2018, and the first ground transport run was made in November of 2018. Stunkel said volunteers drove approximately 36,000 miles in 2019.

In 2020, they have also been able to utilize some flights by private pilots to help with transport.

Flights to Furever
City of Uvalde Public Works employee Leopoldo Cardenas holds his namesake rescued puppy. In June the Flights to Furever rescue program, part of the Humane Societey of Uvalde, asked for nominations of essential workers to use as names for a littler of rescued puppies. Cardenas has been a sanitation driver for about four months. He was previously employed as a school bus driver for the school district.

In 2013, the initial year, Flights to Furever provided transport for five dogs; 19 dogs in 2014; 53 dogs in 2015; 64 dogs in 2016; 101 dogs in 2017; 274 dogs in 2018; and 481 dogs in 2019.

The program typically has five to seven no-kill, foster-based rescue partners per month in New York. Though they primarily work with canines, FTF has also helped a few felines find homes.

How to help

Flights to Furever
Nurse Alison Peppler holds her namesake puppy, from a litter Flights to Furever rescued in June. The program asked for nominations from supporters to use as puppy names, to honor first responders. Peppler has been a nurse for 27 years, including serving as the director of the intensive care unit and medical and surgery department at Uvalde Memorial Hospital. She plans to return to Canada soon, where she will be a nurse educator.

The program is always in need of those able to foster a pet while transport is being arranged, and anyone interested in doing so may message the Flights to Furever Facebook page.

Donations of pet food, beds, crates, collars, or other supplies may be taken to the Humane Society office at 127 S. Camp St. in Uvalde, or for more information contact HSU at 830-591-9229.

The group fundraises money to cover transport costs on both ends. Ground transports can range anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 a run depending on the number of canines traveling.

A garage sale fundraiser was held Saturday at 8 a.m. at 920 Patricia Place in Uvalde, and featured furniture, plant pots and more.

In addition to the T-shirt sales and regular garage sales, Vasquez Restaurant in Uvalde has partnered with the FTF program, starting on June 27, to create “Save a Dog on Saturdays,” where some of the restaurants proceeds that day are donated to Flights to Furever. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays.

Vasquez’s owner Enrique Vasquez and his wife, Lori, also foster dogs for the program.

jkeeble@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335