Richmond Griner of Wag Works chats with Michael Schneider, founder and executive director of Pilots To The Rescue, an organization that combines a love for aviation with a mission to save animals’ lives. Michael’s journey into aviation began at 35 with a spontaneous skydive that sparked a passion for flying. Just a few years later, he launched Pilots To The Rescue in 2015, blending his skills as a commercial pilot with his dedication to animal welfare.
Over the past decade, Pilots To The Rescue has grown into a national network of volunteer pilots and ground transport teams, moving at-risk animals from overcrowded shelters to rescues and adoption centers where they can thrive. With more than 1,200 flight hours and the recent addition of their Kodiak 100 plane, affectionately named Big Paw, Michael and his team now transport not only cats and dogs, but also endangered wildlife like red wolves and cold-stunned sea turtles. Their work fills a critical gap in the rescue process, ensuring that animals are spared from euthanasia and given a second chance at life.
Beyond the cockpit, Michael has built a community-driven nonprofit that partners with shelters, foundations, and national organizations to respond to disasters, evacuate animals in crisis, and inspire hope for both pets and people. Celebrating 10 years in 2025, Pilots To The Rescue is expanding its fleet and impact, proving that passion, creativity, and compassion can quite literally lift lives into the sky.
In this episode, Michael shares how a late-in-life career pivot led him to create lasting change, why air transport is vital for rescue operations, and what fuels his commitment to saving animals—and the humans who love them. His story is one of reinvention, resilience, and proving that sometimes the shortest flight path leads to the biggest difference.
