Peter Rork & Doyle

Who is in the photo at right?

This is Doyle with me, Peter Rork, riding a sup board on Flathead Lake in Montana.

We are taking a day off from our Dog Is My CoPilot animal rescue flight schedule. DIMC is a nonprofit organization that flies abandoned cats and dogs from kill shelters to parts of the country where they are highly adoptable.

I fly the rescue missions and Doyle, a black lab, is my copilot. Find us at Dog Is My CoPilot. 

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are in the pre-flight planning room at the airport drinking coffee before going "wheels up" on a rescue flight. We start early in the morning as our missions usually involve seven to eight hours in the air.

What's brewing?

Black coffee, as strong as jet fuel.

Any treats for you or Doyle on this occasion?

We fly with Doyle’s favorite treat on board: dried mango.

How were you and Doyle united?

Doyle is a trained bird dog who could no longer keep up with the younger dogs, so he was thrown away at age seven. I overheard people talking about him and stepped up to make him my best friend. My lucky day!

How did he get his name? Any aliases?

Doyle was named for one of my favorite authors...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Please tell us about DIMC.

Dog Is My CoPilot is dedicated to saving animals' lives by providing air transportation to abandoned cats and dogs. DIMC decreases the number of animals killed in shelters and increases shelter adoption by flying animals to areas where they are more adoptable.

DIMC works with established nonprofit animal rescue organizations (AROs) to coordinate flights. AROs pull animals from kill shelters (odd phrase, don't you think?) and move them to safety in humane rescues, breed specific rescues, and foster/furever homes. When the distance the animals need to travel is too great for over-the-road transport, DIMC swoops in to fly them.

Our typical mission is more than 600 nautical miles. There is never a fee to the sending or receiving ARO.

You can learn more about DIMC at our website and like us on Facebook.

Does Doyle have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Doyle's happy place is Polson, Montana on Flathead Lake. We share a house on the water.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

"Red rope" is his current favorite.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Doyle does not chase. The "knock on the door" sound on the television gets him going though.

If Doyle could change one thing about you, what would it be?

Doyle would be happy if I would give him 95% of the bed.

Who is Doyle's best pet-pal?

Doyle’s best pals are the hundreds of fortunate and grateful cats and dogs who are on board the plane as we fly them to homes. Doyle tells them that they are safe and will soon be in loving families.

If Doyle could speak in the movie about your life, who should do his voice?

Tim Allen.

If Doyle could answer just one question in English, what would you ask him?

When is the water too cold for a swim?

Learn more about Dog Is My CoPilot at the DIMC website and like the DIMC Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue