This pilot rescues pets from overcrowded shelters and flies them to forever homes
Julian Javor grew up dreaming of being a pilot and flying through the clouds. While today he has achieved his goal, there’s something odd about the flights he captains: his passengers are of the four-legged kind. In particular, they are domestic animals who have long languished in overcrowded shelters. It’s estimated that over one million animals who aren’t adopted are euthanised every year in the United States. Yet there are neighbourhoods that hold greater capacity to shelter and rehome pets. With his flights across North America, Javor is ensuring that each animal lands in a better place.
After receiving his commercial pilot’s licence in 2017, Javor began renting out single-engine aircrafts to transport two dogs at a time. His non-profit Pet Rescue Pilots took flight in 2019, and Javor has since upgraded to transporting 72 animals in a twin-engine aircraft. When he lands, he knows that their destination is a loving home. According to Javor, close to 90% of the dogs he flies to rescue groups in the Pacific Northwest are adopted within a week. “It’s so satisfying,” he says. “I never thought in a million years we’d get to where we are today.”
With his own contributions and public donations, Javor has rescued and rehomed over 1 500 animals, transforming a childhood passion into a selfless journey. “If people were to take something that they loved to do and found a way to do good with it, the world would be a better place,” he says.
