Charlottesville pilot taking supplies to Asheville, bringing back stranded pets

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Eric Walden normally flies his TBM 900 in and out of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport for private passengers, but when Hurricane Helene struck in North Carolina, he knew his wings could be used to help.

“It just seemed like the right time to do something right,” Walden said.

Walden and his wife sent out a message asking for donations Monday, October 3.

“Within 24 hours, hundreds of people had messaged and called and emailed and shared and all over Facebook,” Walden said. “It went viral.”

The outpouring of support filled Walden’s plane a few times over.

“Everybody came from everywhere, because they saw the need,” Walden said. “That’s what we do. It’s what Americans do. We help.”

By Thursday morning, supplies were loaded up and the plane was off.

It’s a two-part mission. While in North Carolina, they emptied the plane and brought back with them 22 cats.

Gina Proulx, a volunteer with Troy-based Green Dogs Unleashed is taking a few kennels of kittens and their moms to Spotsylvania. It’s her way to help.

“Rescues left and right in that area are not only not functioning right now, they’re destroyed,” Proulx said. “I mean, what can we do for Asheville? They’ve been decimated. It’s the least we can do.”

The cats needs to grow up a little, then it’ll be time to find them a new and safer home. They will eventually be listed for adoption on the Green Dogs Unleashed website.

“We have no adopters for these cats yet, so we certainly need them and they are adorable,” Proulx said.

More are coming, too. Once this round of cats were taken off the plane, Walden was back off to Asheville for another load.

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