CENTRAL POINT, OR (January 16, 2025) – A groundbreaking partnership between Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) and Angel Flight West is streamlining the journey for puppies and future Service Dogs, bringing efficiency and compassion to every step of their path toward service. This collaboration ensures that transportation is not just practical but also safe and timely, allowing DBL to focus more resources on training and placing life-changing Service Dogs.
In this partnership, Angel Flight West will help facilitate transportation of puppies and dogs along the west coast. Flights will include puppies heading to or from their volunteer Puppy Raisers, future Service Dogs turning in for professional training to DBL’s West Campus, and Service Dogs and their Field Representatives heading out to placement. This is a welcome expansion to DBL’s growing Canine Co-Pilots program.
The first flight of this new partnership took off on January 14th, transporting future Service Dog Chance from DBL’s West Campus in Oregon to his volunteer Puppy Raiser in Bozeman, Montana. Ground transportation from Oregon to Montana is difficult in the winter months, and Chance had already been waiting for one month to make the journey. Securing a no-cost flight through Angel Flight West made it possible for Chance to settle into his Puppy Raiser home and focus on his foundational training.
“Partnering with Angel Flight West is a game-changer for us,” said Bryan Williams, CEO of Dogs for Better Lives. “Their incredible network of volunteer pilots allows us to save time and resources while ensuring that puppies and future Service Dogs can transition through each stage of their journey quickly and safely. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to improving lives and supporting communities.”
Angel Flight West, a nonprofit dedicated to delivering health and hope through donated flights, provides these services at no cost to DBL, just as they do for their healthcare passengers. Their network of over 1,800 volunteer pilots completes more than 5,000 missions annually, showcasing the profound impact of compassion in the skies.
“We’re proud to partner with organizations like Dogs for Better Lives to help service dogs on their journeys to and from training,” says AFW Associate Executive Director Cheri Cimmarrusti. “We know it makes a profound impact on individuals and families when a service dog is partnered with a companion, and we’re deeply grateful to our volunteer pilots who make these life-changing flights possible.”
The next scheduled flight is planned for February. Then, Certified Hearing Dog Magna will be traveling to Fresno from DBL’s West Campus. This flight will mark the beginning of the final leg of Magna’s Service Dog journey. From Fresno, she will head out to be placed with her client.
For more information about the partnership, including opportunities to meet at a local airport for one of these missions, or to access photos from the inaugural flight, please contact:
Media Contacts:
Sara Ifert
VP, Marketing
Dogs for Better Lives
sara@dogsforbetterlives.org
774-255-3518
Jessica Hayes
Sr. Communications Manager
Angel Flight West
jessicah@angelflightwest.org
(323) 332-1610
About Dogs for Better Lives
Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that rescues, breeds, and professionally trains Assistance Dogs to support people with disabilities. Founded in 1977, DBL is dedicated to enriching lives by placing Hearing, Autism, and Facility Dogs throughout the United States.
About Angel Flight West
Angel Flight West delivers health and hope using donated flights to serve those with healthcare or other compelling human needs. With over 1,800 volunteer pilots and more than 5,000 missions annually, Angel Flight West provides free air transportation for individuals requiring non-emergency medical care and other essential services. For more information, visit www.angelflightwest.org.
