AnguillAir to continue free flights partnership with US dog rescue organisation

AnguillAir is continuing to provide free flights for dogs rescued from Anguilla and St Maarten, helping them reach new homes in the United States.

The airline has renewed its partnership with US non-profit Fly To Freedom Dog Rescue for the 2026 to 2027 flying season, waiving fees for travel in both the cabin and cargo hold.

The contribution saves the rescue organisation between US$150 and $400 per dog, allowing more donor funding to go towards veterinary care, boarding and preparing animals for adoption.

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In a press release on 6 November, Leigh Fazzina, founder and president of Fly To Freedom Dog Rescue, said AnguillAir is making a meaningful donation every time a dogs flies.

“Waiving these fees across an entire season is an extraordinary commitment to our mission,” she said.

“Their generosity helps us stretch donor dollars further and gives dogs from Anguilla and St Maarten an opportunity to reach families they might otherwise never have.”

The partnership with AnguillAir, a seasonal sub-brand of BermudAir, started last season and in March the airline flew Stella, a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois, from Anguilla to the US in its cargo hold.

Stella was transported to Newark Liberty International Airport, where she was welcomed by the Conte family of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Robin Smallwood, head of systems at BermudAir, said: “When we first started working with Fly to Freedom Dog Rescue, it seemed such a simple way for BermudAir to make a real difference.

“Seeing Stella make the journey to her new home earlier this year was a wonderful moment and showed just what this partnership can achieve.

“It’s a relatively small thing for us to do, but it can make an enormous difference to the lives of these dogs and the families who welcome them.

“We’re delighted to be continuing our support for another season and look forward to helping many more dogs find their forever homes.”

Fly To Freedom Dog Rescue encourages anyone flying from Anguilla to the US this winter to choose AnguillAir and contact Fly To Freedom Dog Rescue about escorting a rescue dog.

The group coordinates each dog’s transportation arrangements and guides volunteers through the process.

Fazzina experienced the AnguillAir’s hospitality firsthand in February, when she travelled with her own service animal, describing it as “a fantastic airline”.

“The comfort of the plane, the service, the attention to detail and the friendliness of the flight crew made it an experience unlike any I had on other commercial airlines,” she said.

“They even served complimentary dark ’n stormy cocktails – a lovely bonus.

“For anyone planning a trip to Anguilla, this is an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful flight and potentially help transport a rescue dog to its forever US home.”

Rebecca Taillon, on-island transport coordinator and accountant for Fly To Freedom Dog Rescue, said that behind every flight is a dog the organisation has promised to help.

“AnguillAir is helping us keep that promise,” she said. “We hope travellers will support an airline that is giving so generously to these dogs and consider becoming part of a rescue journey themselves.”

Fly To Freedom Dog Rescue is a US-based, all-volunteer, donor-funded non-profit organisation dedicated to rescuing island dogs from Anguilla and St Maarten and finding them permanent homes in the US.

Founded in 2019, the organisation works with volunteer foster parents, transporters, veterinarians and airlines to give at-risk island dogs a second chance at life.

To learn more about the group, how to become a volunteer or fosterer, how to apply for adoption, or how make a donation, click here.

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