Lyle the basset hound had been neglected after his owner passed away. He was underweight and lonely, and needed a home. Fortunately, a basset-loving family stepped in to adopt him. The only problem? Lyle was in California, and his new family lived in Seattle.
Enter John Williams, Rover.com software engineer and licensed pilot. Along with fellow Rover employee Katie Lisko, he volunteered to fly Lyle to his forever family.
That’s right. They flew Lyle home.
Katie Lisko and John Williams of Rover.com
Rover.com employees are obsessed with dogs. They love being surrounded by fellow dog fanatics, not to mention getting to play with the dogs who come to the office each day. But sometimes this devotion goes above and beyond—way above!
How did this all come about? Williams is active in Pilots ‘n Paws, a national animal rescue group. Their tagline is “Saving the Lives of Innocent Animals,” and they have an active website and online forum where folks can request transport as well as volunteer their flying services. It’s a nonprofit organization that connects those who rescue, foster, or shelter animals, with licensed pilots willing to transport them.
Picking Lyle up
It was a clear, sunny day, so the transport went without a hitch. Lyle had quite the view, in fact.
And his new family was thrilled to meet him. Of course.