High-flying show gives rescue dogs a chance to shine at mountain attraction

BLOWING ROCK, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) – “Not all heroes wear capes,” the saying goes. Animal advocates say we all have the superpower to save the day by adopting a pet at a local shelter.

“No better way to get a dog, and also you’ll be a hero!” John Misita told a crowd at Tweetsie Railroad .

He founded K9s in Flight, a high-flying traveling show.

“CEO and pooper scooper,” he jokes.

“We’re happy to say that every dog you’re going to see has been rescued or adopted,” Misita told visitors.

They’ve appeared at Tweetsie every year for two decades. In Blowing Rock and at stops across the country they show what happens when someone believes in a pup’s potential.

It’s 25 minutes of fast-paced entertainment, starring a flurry of furry and underestimated performers.

Many dogs wind up in a shelter because they have too much energy. Here, their energy is an asset as the four-legged stars catch frisbees and dock dives to the delight of audiences.

“That’s what we’re talking about!” said Misita, tossing up discs that a pooch plucks out of the air with zeal.

“It’s the highlight of our trip,” says William Blanton of Sherrills Ford, who came with his wife and grandkids, including Jeremy Ervin.

“I have foster dogs, so it brings a little warmth to my heart,” Ervin said.

“Are you guys ready for a dock diving contest? Make some noise!” Misita says getting children especially pumped up.

They go the distance with 16 rescue dogs from all over the country, featuring two from North Carolina.

Misita adopted Finn from New Leash on Life , a program that gives inmates in NC prisons a chance to train a dog.

“I adopted this handsome devil about three years ago,” Misita said, introducing us to another dog, Gizmo.

Gizmo came from Freedom Ride Rescue , based in Raleigh.

“They’re our pets, but they’re like our kids. But they’re even more than that; they’re our teammates,” Misita stresses at each performance.

The takeaway is that no matter what the dog’s history, there’s life after a shelter.

Nationwide, the reality bites. More than three million dogs end up in shelters each year.

Locally, the CMPD Animal Care and Control shelter in Charlotte has been at full capacity for more than a month.

CMPD relies on the help of fosters like Christy Acevedo.

“The very first time we came here, it was really hard to walk through all the kennels and see all the dogs that just want somebody to love them,” Acevedo says.

“I want all these dogs to find happy families at home,” she added.

K9s in Flight shines a light on the potential of every pet.

“There’s millions of dogs and cats in shelters every year that get euthanized because we don’t have enough homes,” Misita told Queen City News.

“So hopefully everyone here goes out and rescues a dog or a cat,” says Blanton.

Despite the efforts to raise awareness, too many pets are holding out for a hero to give them a home.

“Trying to get people to be responsible for their pets; not doing real good,” said Misita.

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