Victoria animal shelter seeks Fort St. John ‘flight angels’ to help rescues

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — An animal rescue is looking for ‘flight angels’ who can help transport rescued cats and dogs to Victoria from Fort St. John, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. 

The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, based out of Victoria, uploaded a Facebook post asking the community to help transport animals to the rescue safely.

A ‘flight angel’ is someone who is already flying and willing to add an animal to their flight itinerary. 

The post further highlighted what the rescue will cover or handle for willing participants, with a walk-through of the procedure: 

• The cost of adding the animal. 
• The crate and paperwork. 
• The drop-off at departure and pick-up in Victoria. 

The rescue said these flights are the most impactful way it has been able to move animals.

Megan Evans, director at Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, told Energeticcity.ca: “We get more responses from people flying from Alberta than we do from up north in [places] like Fort St. John and the Northwest Territories. 

“We do occasionally get people flying from up north [to] down south that are willing to be ‘flight angels’ for us, maybe once a month.

“It’s not as common as we would like, because there’s so many animals up there that need help that we just attach on to anybody who’s willing to help us out.” 

“Usually everyone who’s responding is very excited to be a part of the process,” she added. “They want to take selfies with the puppies, and they often like updates to know when, when they’ve been adopted and things like that. 

“They end up falling in love in that very short time.” 

Evans shared that sometimes, the people transporting animals have adopted them as well. 

“If we could have a dozen in a month, that would be fantastic. 

“It just really depends on how many people are willing to step forward and be a part of that,” she said, claiming Fort St. John has an animal overpopulation crisis. 

She said: “We’re trying to take as much stress off of local animal rescuers as we can.” 

The rescue is asking for people who are interested to send it a message with travel date, airline and departure city, confirming the flight is direct to Victoria.

The community can contact the rescue on Facebook, email at info@ibkc.ca and by phone on (250) 363-9412.