Fifty-six rescue dogs and three flight crew survived a crash landing on a golf course 18 miles west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin last Tuesday. The twin-engine cargo plane was transporting the at-risk adoptable dogs from New Orleans, LA to Waukesha, WI when it made an emergency landing for unclear reasons.
The plane’s wings were completely sheared off after it plowed into a stand of trees and more than 300 gallons of fuel were spilled. However, none of the loving cargo and crew sustained serious injuries.
First responders arrived on the scene at about 9 AM to find golf course employees helping crew and dogs escape the wreck. “The pilot and his co-pilot did an amazing job getting this aircraft onto the ground the way they did,” Matthew Haerter, Lake Country Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief, told local ABC affilliate, WISN. The crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
Photo courtesy of HAWS, Waukesha
Upon receiving news of the crash, employees of the Human Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) in Waukesha raced to the scene from the Waukesha airport where they were waiting to receive the dogs.
“We were just immediately jumping into action to get them all . . . triaged,” Maggie Tate-Techtmann, HAWS director of organizational development said. “I think we were all unsure about what we were going to be arriving to but very grateful that everyone is safe.”
HAWS reported that it partners with southern U.S. shelters to receive animals in need of various services that cannot be provided locally. Natural disasters, overcrowding and specialized medical care can trigger a mass transport.
This influx of injured pets has stretched HAWS’s resources, Tate-Techtmann said. Stella & Chewy’s, based in nearby Oak Creek, is covering adoption fees and Wilde Subaru is pitching in to help cover the animals' care. But more help is needed. A fundraiser has been started to help cover medical expenses and additional supplies for the dogs. Local residents can also drop off desired items. At press time, HAWS has received more than $12,000 in donations from people across the country.
Veterinarians are treating the injured dogs, many of whom are reportedly cleared for adoption. Among those offering forever homes are members of the Lake Country Fire & Rescue who showed up to the crash site.
Those involved in other transport accidents have not been as lucky. In May, 2020, a box truck carrying 48 rescue dogs from Idaho to Calgary veered off the shoulder of I15 and slammed into an embankment. The driver and passenger in the cab were killed along with 14 of the dogs. This and other incidents point to the need for strict safety standards when transporting animals.
While we’re piling green bean casserole and half-dozen variations of pumpkin on our holiday plates next Thursday, we can also pass along Wisconsin’s Thanksgiving miracle.
How many shelter animals get rescued twice?