Upper St. Clair Firefighter and Police Officer Use Plane to Rescue Dogs
Brad Childs and Robert McMaster are working to make their Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team a nonprofit organization.
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Brad Childs and Robert McMaster are using more than Upper St. Clair fire trucks and police cruisers to help others—they're using an airplane.
Childs, a volunteer firefighter and the vice president of Eyetique, and McMaster, an Upper St. Clair officer, both have a love for flying and animals, so they've teamed up to create the Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team.
The organization transports at-risk animals by working with volunteer rescue organizations and shelters. For example, Childs said he'll get a call that a shelter is going to euthanize dozens of dogs, so he'll work through Pilots N Paws to help get the dogs to a no-kill shelter or a "furever" home.
"It's weird, but they (the dogs) know you're helping them get out of a bad situation. I don't know how, but they know, it's crazy," Childs said.
"I swear you can see the gratitude in the dogs. Most have been abused or neglected. They're on their way to a new life. It's gratifying," McMaster said.
One of their most memorable trips happened about a year ago. They flew a dog in the third leg of a trip to reunite the animal with its owner.
The owner came to Pittsburgh from Florida for a quick doctor's appointment, but found out his cancer returned and he only had days to live. His final wish was to somehow be reunited with his pet, and Childs and McMaster helped make that happen.
"We got him (the dog) back in 20 hours. And that wouldn't even have been possible through a commercial flight," McMaster said. "We see it as we're a specialized taxi service. The real heroes here are the rescue organizations—the people who foster and adopt dogs."
And it's a service that they're mainly paying for out of their own pockets.
"How much money? A lot. But that dog is worth it. They're all worth it," McMaster said.
Childs and McMaster have submitted the paperwork to make Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team a nonprofit organization and are hoping to get approval in the near future.
In the meantime, how can you help? Childs said they could always use dog food donations. Send an email to info@pittrescue.org and like Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team on Facebook to help get the word out.
The organization has already helped more than 200 dogs and raised about 50,000 pounds of dog food. Childs and McMaster said they couldn't do it without their chief pilot, Lawrence (Pete) Lehmann, and the support of their wives, Linda Childs and Anne McMaster.
In This article
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Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department
2001 Washington Rd, Upper St Clair, PA -
Upper St. Clair Police Department
1820 McLaughlin Run Rd, Upper St Clair, PA
John Sanders
6:45 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Great job guys!! You are both angels from heaven!! God Bless USC...we are so lucky to have two great people people as employees of the township.
brad childs
2:02 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
thanks for the great compliments...our fire department from top to bottom is 100% VOLUNTEER, we do not have a paid person on staff.
Sandra OToole
10:18 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
God Bless both of you! What a gift you give!
Vera
10:18 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Fantastic!! Rescue takes very special people to be able to do what they do. God Bless these guys!
Janice Dugan
11:14 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Thrilled with all you do with the furbabies. Without you rescues would not happen in time for proper medical care and furever home placements. Not sure if you have done any videos, but you might want to try a few and post to youtube...from FB. That is a great way to get all your info out there through sharing. Pipers rescue would be a good one for example. LOVE you all - and all you do.
TAMMY FUNK
11:14 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Thanks guys! You are amazing!
Tracey Eakin
2:02 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Best of luck to both of you. What wonderful work!
Tammy Makoul
2:02 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Amazing work! Inspirational and worth every good deed.
Keep it up! We will spread the word for this great cause!
BobE
3:39 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wow! Great to read about great people!
elizabethj.cosgrove
4:37 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
you guys are the best. God is with you in all your journey's .please becareful in your full time jobs. we need more people like you..THANK YOU
Oren Spiegler
10:33 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
A tip of the hat to both of these outstanding and giving gentlemen! It is said that we are known by how we treat the least among us, and these individuals have treated dogs with love and compassion. I hope that Mr. Childs’ devotion and generosity will serve to encourage residents of the community to patronize his family’s renowned Eyetique businesses. That is the least we can do for such a fine man.
Somepplstillamazeme
10:32 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
It’s great that our wonderful township has people like Officer Robert McMaster and Firefighter Brad Childs protecting us. The USC Commissioners should really recognize these two outstanding, kind hearted individuals for their work not only within the township but also outside of it. This world would be a whole lot better with more people like Officer McMaster and Firefighter Childs. They are the reason why USC is such a great place to live and raise a family. I have personally dealt with Officer McMaster and he is just a great person. It was no surprise to me that he would be involved in something as noble as saving animals from being euthanized. Officer McMaster…A TRUE AMERICAN HERO.
John Jahigglewitz
9:19 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I think this is great and all but I wonder if any of our tax dollars are being used for this? Lord knows we pay enough taxes to live here!!!
Rob M.
9:23 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Absolutely not one single penny John. It comes out of my pocket....I would know.
Rob M.
9:23 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
....and thanks for the support.
Wake Up
10:18 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
@Rob M. I must admit when I first read this article, I thought the Township plane was being used for these rescues. However, with the help of Ms. Brindle, through the deletion of my comment, I was able to come to the realization that the Township plane was not being used. In fact, I came to find out through contacting Township officials that the Township doesn't even own a plane.
Anyway, my heart aches every time I see that ASPCA commercial on TV (the one with Sarah McLachlan). But knowing that you and Mr. Childs are out saving those animals is some comfort.
If there is anyway we could help out with monetary donations please let us know.
Good Luck and God Bless you and Mr. Childs
John Jahigglewitz
7:20 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
@Rob M......Thanks for the answer (though it did sound a little sarcastic), I'm just a taxpayer wanting to know where and what my tax dollars are being used for (if they are). Anyway, I'm a proud owner of a Shar Pei named "Sherman" and I can tell you that we both appreciate what you and Mrs. Childs are doing.
RPD
9:54 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
You guys are AMAZING == THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for what you do for these helpless animals.