Derrick Maxwell visited Indianapolis Animal Shelter in 2019 in search of a furry pet to bring home. Struggling with physical concerns that frequently knocked him down, he realized the only thing that could assist him was the love of a dog. He knew he was the perfect pup for him after locking eyes with Kodak.
Derrick and Kodak built an incredible bond during their time together following his adoption. Kodak provided him with the emotional support he essentially needed, making the subsequent events even more tragic.
Derrick’s entire world came crashing down due to an unfortunate mistake made by a neighbor. Kodak was able to flee through the front door after a neighbor unintentionally let him out, allowing Kodak to escape. Derrick spent weeks looking for him with no luck, eventually giving up hope after repeated attempts.
Derrick was forced to move on after months of not seeing Kodak. He then packed his stuff and relocated to California.
Derrick awoke on his birthday to an email from the microchip firm named Home Again. Kodak had been discovered alive and well in a city roughly an hour away from his hometown. Though Derrick was overjoyed at the prospect of reconciling with his best buddy, his happiness was quickly overshadowed by the hardships of bringing him home.
Derrick had to organize travel for Kodak because he was on the opposite side of the country. After being turned down by various airlines for aircraft transport, the only alternative left was a $5,000 transport service. Derrick was scared that their reunion would be out of reach because he couldn’t come up with the money immediately. That’s when the ASPCA Relocation Team stepped in and saved the day by contacting Pet Rescue Pilots.
Pet Rescue Pilots is a charitable organization that transports eligible pets from overcrowded shelters to areas where adoption rates are higher. When the organization’s owner, Julian Javor, learned of Kodak’s plight, he decided he had to step in and offer his assistance. They were able to plan a rescue flight to reunite the long-lost pair.
They were able to plan a rescue flight to reunite the long-lost pair.
Within a few days, Kodak was aboard the Pet Rescue Pilot for the 2,000-mile journey to California. Kodak felt as if he couldn’t possibly give his father enough kisses from the moment he landed down and saw him again. Kodak has returned, and the two couldn’t be happier.
All photos courtesy of PetRescuePilots/Insta