It’s not unusual for the rich and famous to land at Del Rio International Airport on their way to vacation at exotic locations. 
Everyone from former President George W. Bush, after he left office, to Kim Kardashian have dropped in on the Queen City’s airport.
On Monday, Dec. 7, Jason Rhode, chief executive officer of Cirrus Logic Inc. an Austin-based electronic components company, and a multi-millionaire flew in.
However, instead of jetting off on vacation, Rhode picked up 15 homeless Del Rio dogs from what could have turned out to be a doggie death row and jetted them to a new life in Austin, where they’ll reside in a no-kill shelter until adoption.
The operation started about 10:15 a.m. Monday when seven volunteers with Del Rio Animal Advocacy and Rescue Coalition fanned out and picked up 10 dogs being fostered in local homes plus another five at the Del Rio animal control facility.
By 11:40 a.m., the volunteers had the pack corralled in the organization’s trailer, and they met Rhode at the airport, where he’d just landed.
They loaded the 15 dogs up for their first plane ride and 40 minutes later, Rhode and the pups had jetted off for a fresh start.
“We are blown away,” said Katelyn Hurta, AARC director and volunteer. “We can’t get people to drive dogs to Austin when we are paying them but this guy comes and stacks 15 dogs in his private plane, it’s just huge for us.”
Rhode downplayed his generosity.
“If you’re a pilot you want to fly to stay current and it’s more fun if you have a mission,” he said.
Instead of a five-hour ride to Austin, the pack of 15 got something few people receive, a ride in a private plane. More importantly, Rhode’s generosity gave the pups an advantage they’d probably never get in Del Rio.
“The Austin Humane Society has resources we don’t. They bring dogs into their facility, the vets take great care of them,” Hurta said. “Then, hopefully, they get adopted.”
Rhode added that the pack were good passengers.
“It’s always the same pattern. You have a couple of barkers and whiners scratching but once you take off, they all go asleep,” Rhode said.
