Pilot of Rescue Flight for Pets Impacted by Hurricanes Adopts Kitten After Finding 'Love at 30,000 Feet'

A Southwest captain made a new friend in kitten Avery while flying 145 shelter animals affected by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene to the Midwest

• On Oct. 12, Southwest pilot Matthew Prebish flew a transport of rescue pets from areas impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton

• Captain Prebish decided to adopt one of his over 145 rescue animal passengers, a kitten named Avery

• The other shelter pets on the rescue flight are now available for adoption through eight different Midwest animal shelters

After rescuing shelter pets affected by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene last week, one pilot decided to take his rescue efforts even further by giving one of his passengers a new home!

On Oct. 12, Greater Good Charities partnered with Southwest Airlines and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue to transport over 145 animals from South Carolina to the Midwest to find homes through shelters not impacted by the recent hurricanes. The animals, relocated from shelters in Tennessee and Florida, were transferred to LuckyDog's South Carolina Rescue Campus in Florence, S.C., before taking the rescue flight to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin.

The partnership also delivered humanitarian supplies to North Carolina communities recovering from Hurricane Helene.

"Since the beginning, we have been supporting the people and pets devastated by these catastrophic hurricanes," Liz Baker, the CEO of Greater Good Charities, said in a statement. "This donation of humanitarian supplies and our emergency shelter pet airlift are part of our efforts to bring relief to the hardest-hit communities."

One of the fortunate pets picked up by the rescue flight found a home before the plane landed, thanks to Southwest Captain Matthew Prebish, the flight's pilot.

"It was love at 30,000 feet. I don’t think Captain Matt was expecting to adopt a hurricane evacuee from Tennessee when he agreed to fly this amazingly special flight, but some things are meant to be," Lucky Dog CEO Mirah A. Horowitz said in a statement to PEOPLE.

"Avery the kitten is definitely a Lucky Cat and was right at home with his new dad in the cockpit once we landed and parked. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue is extremely proud to have helped make this happy ending possible.”

Related: Family Dog Finds Their 11-Year-Old Grandson Alive After Hurricane Helene Mudslide

According to news releases from both the nonprofit and Southwest Airlines, over 150 pets were transported to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on Oct. 12 before they were sent to eight shelters in the Midwest. Those shelters included Wisconsin's Humane Animal Welfare Society, Elmbrook Humane Society, The Washington County Humane Society, the Humane Society of Jefferson County, the Dane County Humane Society, Eau Claire Community Humane Association, Green County Humane Society, and Illinois' One Tail at a Time.

Ahead of the trip, a local licensed veterinarian from Banfield Pet Hospital examined the pets and provided necessary health certificates. A lead veterinarian from the Humane Animal Welfare Society accompanied by the dozens of animals on the flight.

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"After Hurricane Helene hit, we knew we needed to provide some relief to the shelters in impacted areas. Our Rescue Campus in Florence was perfectly situated to do that," Horowitz said.

"Of the 38 animals we evacuated from Florida, 20 will be on this lifesaving flight, as well as an additional 32 dogs and 93 cats who have spent the last three days in our care after being safely evacuated from the mountains of Eastern Tennessee," Horowitz added. "We are truly grateful to Southwest Airlines for making this flight possible because it gives breathing room to shelters dealing with unprecedented numbers of animals displaced by the storm who need care until they can be reunited with their owners."

Related: Triplets Survived Hurricane Helene by Sheltering on Their Kitchen Counter: 'Only Thing We Could Do Was Pray'

As previously reported, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on Oct. 9. At least 16 people died as a result of the storm. Additionally, the death toll for Hurricane Helene is over 220 individuals, per officials and news outlets.

To learn more about how to help with relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Helene, click here.

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