Soaring Paws

This "Charity" is run by a pilot who has lied about his past, has felonies and is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Ask the charity a question on their Facebook page and you are blocked from seeing the page again.

The organizations license has been cancelled and they are still soliciting funds. (https://csapp.800helpfla.com/cspublicapp/businesssearch/businesssearch.aspx)
(https://www.booster.com/soaring-paws-summer-2016)

Please donate to your local shelter or rescue group and not fake charities that use your money for personal gain and will actually help animals.

Used to be in aww because of all the things this charity said they day.. Come to find out the charity is a huge scam and they have taken thousands away from other rescues when they helped share his fundraiser. The guy who runs it also lied about his service.... Yes, they have "rescued" dogs, but most of them could have found another method of transport just fine.... This is not a true rescue...

This gentleman is under criminal investigation by the state of Florida. Go to the Tampa Bay Times website, and search for "Soaring Paws". Gofundme and others have shut him down. He talks a good talk, but it is all lies and fantasy. Check out Soaring Paws Exposed on FaceBook. Donate at your own risk. It's a total scam.

Shame on you Soaring Paws! You used a dead dog to get funds from people like me. Google Tampa Bay Times Soaring Paws before you send this man a penny!! You've been warned!!!

Albert is extremely dishonest about where the funds are going and his past military career. Currently under investigation by State of FL. Multiple past felony convictions for fraud(I can't make this stuff up...)

Looks like a scam, smells like a scam. The Tampa Bay Times is all over this "charity" like stink on a monkey.

Only the lowest of the low takes advantage of goodhearted people who want to help defenseless animals, and all of it done for personal gain and glory.

Where I come from this is called fraud, and it's a felony punishable with time in prison.

Despite a couple of Rubes at the end of this blog, most of the response on here are correct.
This Chump is neither a retired Colonel, nor was he ever in the Air Force. He is scamming people by pulling on their "heartstrings" with poor, sad-eyed little puppies. Even his main testimonial story writer has demanded he remove any references to her or past endorsements she made. You will soon be reading that this slimeball was arrested and charged with stealing funds intended for the charity.

*****BEWARE*****. I was duped by albert's scam for 2 years. Now that he has been exposed (lengthy state and federal arrest history, inaccurate or non existent paper trail required of non profit org, etc), I am saddened that his personal pockets are lined with good intended people's donations. Now I hope karma catches up with him soon.

Multiple convicted felon, fraud, credit card fraud. He is not retired USAF nor was he a colonel . Had a fundraiser suspended on his airplane deal due to the fact he was exposed. The airplane he claimed they were buying was not for sale nor had the owner ever spoken with albert

How odd the good reviews were mostly written on the same day by people that choose not to identify themselves. And those are from 2014. This organization MUST file with the Dept of Ag to solicit funds. I emailed the CEO in 2014 and informed him of FL State Statue 496 which requires him to file with the Dept of Ag in Florida to solicit funds. There is a very specific area that questions on the application asking if anyone on the board has been convicted of Fraud in the last 10 years. Because of the CEO's criminal history, time in Jail, and several other investagations there is no way the State would not grant him a permit to solicit funds. This is all found under FL State Statute 496, and the app to solicit funds on the Florida Dept of Ag website.
This man and his corporation are taking money away from the animals that really need it. Don't believe me, ask him questions that require proof and you will be banned from the Facebook page

Tired of reading the recent negative stuff about this group. I have PERSONALLY picked up animals they fly in and drive them to local intake rescues. I have met several of their pilots and caregivers. They post videos of their flights. They are a registered 501c3, obviously the IRS checked them out and when did it become illegal for a charity to solicit donations? Did they force you to give money or like Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation, use dying women with no chance and donate 12% of the millions the receive in donations to research? No. I have done my research. Soaring Paws makes less than 50k yearly. To the other idiot "writers" comment, no rental plane operates at $50 an hour. If they don't own a plane like most pilots what is wrong with renting? And you are bashing them for renting safe "state of the art Cessnas"? One of the planes they fly and have many pictures in is a 1976 cessna...hardly state of the art. I work with South lake animal league.

Two articles in a Tampa newspaper by a reporter who had been receiving an upsetting number of complaints about this organization raising funds fraudulently. Research shows the president of Soaring Paws is a twice convicted felon having served time in prison for impersonating a doctor and credit card fraud. He and his wife have this huge scam going trying to raise money for an airplane to fly the occasional dog from one place to another when in all reality, the man could have rented a car and done the same job for a lot less money and hoopla. Interesting to note that all pilots who volunteer for the legitimate and admirable charity Pilots for Paws use THEIR own planes and money for flying expenses. Every step of the rescue operations are documented dog by dog and there's never a doubt as to the legitimacy of the organization doing great things. This Soaring Paws has flown a few dogs here and there, but 90% of what they croon about on social media are links that can't be identified and fundraisers that have never been verified either.
The moment anyone asks them for proof, you are deleted from their Facebook page. The entire page is devoted to their 2 dogs - doing this and doing that, and then they throw in an obscure plea for giving them money. Report them to Florida Division of Charities, IRS and the FBI for interstate and wire fraud. Send the "presy" back to prison.

I have donated several times over the past months. When the disturbing news article was published, I requested a refund for a large donation I made towards their new plane. Indicated that once they cleared their name I would be happy to re-donate. I was promptly removed from their Facebook page. Sadly, that says a lot!!

There are lots of questions about this organization. The Facebook page "Soaring Paws Exposed" and an article in the Tampa Bay Times give some idea of the problems. The founder has a criminal record and has served time in Federal prison for fraud. He and his wife have filed bankruptcy and refuse to provide any verifyable proof to support his claims. I think donations to Pilots N Paws is a much better way to help innocent animals.

This man and president of soaring paws, Albert is a scam artist he's trying to buy a plane for himself with donor money when he has had offers of planes that operate at $50 an hour but prefers to rent nice state of the art planes for over $200 an hour. Donate to another organization that actually helps.

As a 501c3 Soaring Paws is accountable to the public when you raise the funds publicly. Several questions were asked by me on the Soaring Paws FB page. I asked about the Fundraiser on the Boxers from last Christmas. There has been NO follow up..even though the owner said the media ran the story. There has been no verifiable links anywhere to prove this? Please do your research carefully on this crew. Soaring Paws doesn't seem to like to answer the hard and tough questions and when you do you are blocked from their FB page. Very telling indeed.

There is not enough time nor room in this box to list all the wonderful things about Soaring Paws (501c), or Sharma & Albert. This couple are two of the most humble and giving people I know. They are the REAL DEAL.
I volunteer for a dog rescue and have worked with many rescuers, and none compare to these two. They fly dogs from high kill animal shelters (in their own plane) and deliver them to the laps of the rescuers to place in a foster or forever home. They ALSO fly rescue dogs to their forever home for the Wounded Warriors.
Each dog they fly gets first class treatment! They wear ear muffs, are given treats and a toy to take home, have a nice warm blanket when its cold, or a portable air conditioner when its hot.
Not to mention they receive hugs and kisses in flight from Sharma who often sits in the back seat with them to keep them calm and let them know everything is ok.

To say Soaring Paws goes above & beyond is an understatement. Albert & Sharma's tireless efforts and dedication have saved countless lives, often when the animals' time was up. The love and compassion they show each soul is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

The level of dedication is multiplied, when you factor in that Albert - after seeing how inefficient another rescue transport group operates (I'll leave the name off - you can fill in the blank), decided to start his own non-profit Rescue Transport. Raising capital to operate is time consuming, but that doesn't deter the Adams. With them, there is no problem that cannot be overcome.

I am a volunteer with Florida Boxer Rescue. Dozens of our dogs have flown with Soaring Paws. They were lovingly transported towards their new lives. I am grateful for all the lives that have been rescued not only for FBR, but for all the Rescues.

Soaring Paws inspires me to be a better person and to go the extra mile for Rescue. Thanks to Albert and Sharma - as well as the donors who make it all happen.

Soaring Paws is a wonderful organization that transports pets to adoptive and foster care home. Doesn't sound real exciting does it? THEY DO IT BY PLANE TO DIFFERENT STATES. The pilot ( a retired veteran) and his wife volunteer their time to do this and they have delivered puppies, pregnant momma dogs, and senior dogs to the new "forever" homes. You can see the love and compassion in their eyes with each delivery they make. I just can't say enough about this wonderful group and I have donated to them many times. It's not cheap to fly an airplane.
Debbie D.

This group of animal rescuers are amazing. The care is extraordinary and I love to watch the videos. The help with relocating animals that would otherwise not making it and get them to Rescues. The pilots and volunteers are wonderful. Thanks so much for what you do. I work with a rescue and know the dedication you show daily!!

Soaring Paws how do you put into words the amazing work these two do. They use their own money to make sure animals get happy homes rather than go over the rainbow bridge without knowing LOVE AND COMOASSION! Flying them from state to state for just this reason. They help soldiers in need with either service dogs or flying the soldiers animal from caregiver to another if there is a problem. Again how do you put their compassion into words.

The commitment the pilots and volunteers have to the animals is nothing short of amazing!

Soaring Paws is an amazing organization that transports animals to and from shelters, local rabies animal control facilities, adoptive homes and foster homes...this service is highly unique and of the utmost importance for these animals. With limited funds and transport options, many of the animals would likely be euthanized/killed without Soaring Paws volunteering to assist. Soaring Paws asks for very little but does GRAND things! The founders don't use any of the donations to 'pay' themselves or anyone else in the group a 'salary'....Donations are much needed and ALWAYS put directly to their efforts of getting the animals where they need to be.

Soaring Paws does Amazing work with animal shelters in Florida. They are tireless workers who help rescue animals through flight. They are definitely a worthy organization to donate to!!

They do amazing things for animals that would otherwise be euthanized or placed in bad situations. Wonderful couple and I admire them greatly!!!

Soaring Paws flew 5 dogs to us in FL from a kill shelter in AL. They took such great care of the animals and made a 10 hr roundtrip car ride into aquick 2 hr flight. Every dog had ear muffs on was given a toy and a blanket of thier very own. During the flight they give them love, treats, etc... These people are absoloutely selfless heroes. We found outabout them by seeing a news report on them. I contacted them for a rescue flight and they sved the lives of these dogs who now all have forever homes. I can't say enough good things about this organization except WOW!