Puppies take flight on US Airways

BANGOR – A US Airways flight from Bangor to Philadelphia had two very special passengers on July 11 – Lindy and Andy, traveling with two US Airways volunteers to New Mexico.

The 9-week-old black Labrador puppies are brother and sister. Lindy and Andy were the first puppies to fly from Bangor as part of US Airways Puppies In Flight program, a partnership between the airline and Assistance Dogs International, where US Airways employee-volunteers transport assistance dogs free of charge.

The two black Labradors were on their way to Albuquerque, N.M., to Assistance Dogs of the West, where they will complete their training and be placed with a disabled companion.

The dogs are from Cedarwood Kennels in Bradford.

Like any good mother, kennel owner Nancy Brandow escorted the puppies through security and onto the plane before kissing them goodbye.

According to Brandow, puppies are chosen based on temperament, trainability and projected health status.

Cedarwood Kennels has provided seven Labrador puppies to be service dogs from its breeding program just this year.

Lindy and Andy were sponsored for the program by a construction company and landscape architect, both in Connecticut.

Ned Alley, US Airways Bangor customer service representative, assisted with getting the puppies settled before the plane departed Bangor.

, said,

“The generosity of US Airways and those involved in this important program is commendable,” said Rebecca Hupp, airport director. “This is an excellent example of the positive things that are happening in our community and across the nation.”