53 Dogs That Survived a Plane Crash Are Now Available for Adoption

Some dogs really seem to have bad luck all around – but this unfortunate incident might just have a fairytale-like happy ending for all pooches included. A few days ago, a plane carrying 53 dogs and 3 people from New Orleans to Wisconsin, crashed onto the Western Lakes Golf Club course in the town of Delafield, Waukesha county. The twin-engine turboprop aircraft landed on its undercarriage, but before it ended up on a golf course, it came through trees and the wings came off the aircraft, ending up several hundred feet away from it upon landing. Miraculously, though, no one was seriously hurt – human or canine – and all have only had some scrapes and minor injuries. 

Responders were quick to the scene and started helping dogs out of the crates they were kept in, with veterinarians and doctors at the ready to check everyone’s condition. While the dogs were being rescued from the cargo section, one of them actually jumped in the deputy fire chief’s arms and covered him in kisses – one could think of it as a form of thank you. Well, it certainly made an impression on deputy Wasielewski, as he returned less than 48 hours later to adopt the dog to his family – and she instantly recognized him when he came to the shelter. As Wasielewski said to the Washington Post – “as soon as the lady opened up the door, she bypassed my wife, jumped in my arms, and started giving me kisses“. He teared up and it was over – the decision had been made and this lucky pooch got her forever home at that very moment.

While CeeCee (now named Marley) has found her family right there in the plane wreckage, most of her canine companions from the flight are still waiting on their chance to get a forever family. The remaining dogs were transported to a range of local shelters after the crash, and while their physical injuries were minor, the rescuers are unsure of the possible effect the accident could have had on their future behavior when it comes to spending time in a crate – which is why the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha (HAWS) will be giving free behavior training sessions to people who adopt any of the dogs if they turn out to have difficulties with crate training. 

All of the dogs are available for adoption since that’s the reason why they were transported in a plane in the first place – and are looking for a loving family to take them in and help them forget all about this unfortunate plane crash. HAWS took in 21 of the 53 dogs from the crash, and the rest of the dogs were taken in by The Washington County Humane Society, Elmbrook Humane Society, Humane Society of Sheboygan County, and Humane Society of Jefferson County, in case you’d like to meet some of these lucky survivors and maybe offer one of them a loving home.