We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Peter Ernest Rork MD. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Peter Ernest below.
Peter Ernest , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The mission at Dog Is My CoPilot is to transport dogs (and some cats) from high risk environments to areas and organizations that will never put down an otherwise healthy and adoptable animal.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Dog Is My CoPilot provides long distance transportation from area with high euthanasia rates to regions that are non kill. We are a 501(c)3 and offer our services for no charge to both the sending and receiving organizations. We fly only for other nonprofits. With two Cessna Caravans (C208B) we are able to transport up to 200 animals at a time, benefiting from the economy of scale, resulting in a low cost per animal per transport.
Having transported tens of thousands of animals at risk for being euthanized, we are a national organization with over one hundred sending and receiving partners.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I was a newly married full time practicing Orthopedic Surgeon in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, when my wife suddenly and unexpectedly died. I was crushed and when into a very dark place. I created Dog Is My CoPilot as a vehicle out of my depression. As such, the dogs saved me while I was saving them.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I started the nonprofit funding the expenses from my own pocket. When we scaled up and purchased the first Caravan, I mortgaged my house and loaned the money to the nonprofit without any plan on how it was going to be paid off. I knew that it was the right thing to do, and believed that it would all work out in the end. I had committed my time, skills and resources for a period of ten years , or ten thousand animals, whichever occurred first. Now we are beginning our twelfth year and have flown over twenty seven thousand dogs to safety.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dogcopilot.org
- Facebook: Dog Is My CoPilot Inc