SELINSGROVE — A young dog rescued from an Ohio pound was flown from Selinsgrove to his new home in Hopedale, Mass., in the Cape Cod area.

Julia Ryan, of Connecticut, and co-founder of Animal Rescue Flights, arranged for the flight from Selinsgrove Airport for Tonka, a part Belgian Turvern, according to Yvonne Roadarmel who operates Far Point Collie Rescue in the Port Trevorton area.

Tonka was found wandering along a secluded road in Lisbon, Ohio, was picked up by a dog warden, taken to a pound and scheduled to be euthanized.

“A friend in Ohio saw his picture on Petfinder and arranged to have him transported to Harrisburg where we picked him up,” Roadarmel said.

A woman in Cape Cod saw his picture on Far Point Collie Rescue’s website and called saying she wanted to adopt him. After Roadarmel had her references checked and a home visit done by a friend in the Cape Cod area, she was approved to adopt Tonka whom Roadarmel had treated for kennel cough and pneumonia.

Roadarmel e-mailed Ryan who arranged for the flight by a volunteer pilot. Ryan is also a pilot.

“Tonka is doing great in his new home and has fit right in with his new family,” Roadarmel said.

“She is trying to recruit more pilots to fly dogs to their final homes,” Roadarmel said. “The pilots give of their time and gas to move dogs to forever homes,” she said. Dogs being flown on the free flights must be up-to-date on all shots, have a health certificate signed by a veterinarian and meet the organization's requirements.

More information about the program is available by visiting animalrescueflights.org.

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