LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A mother dog has died after falling from the cargo hold of a small plane that had just taken off from Lexington's Blue Grass Airport, but her five puppies were said to be safe.
Pilot Rameio Gonzales was in tears as he explained he was a volunteer pilot for a rescue operation called "Pilots for Paws."
Gonzales said he felt a rush of air just after take-off and realized a cargo door just above and behind the wing must have come open. He landed the plane to find that the five puppies were still safely inside.
He said the mother dog was wearing a bandana that may have gotten caught in the latch.
The puppies were being taken to Canada to be trained as service dogs.
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