Woof! Meow! Oink! Pilot rescues 1,000th animal: Jeff Bennett has flown dogs, cats, rabbits, pythons and more to safety in his small plane

If accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative were Olympic events, Jeff Bennett would be bound for London next month.

 Bennett, 53, a business owner and pilot who lives in the Florida Keys, studiously avoids dark headlines and depressing news stories. He gravitates toward happy people who build up rather than tear down, and he’s always on the prowl for ways to help out and give back.

But of course, not all disturbing news can be avoided. Bennett really gets riled over stories of animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment — and, about three and a half years ago, he decided to do something about it. He started using his small plane to fly dogs, cats and a host of other critters in dire circumstances to safe places where they’d receive treatment and care. On Friday, Bennett is hitting a milestone by flying his 1,000th rescue animal to safety.

“I never thought I’d be moving this many animals,” Bennett told TODAY.com. “I just really enjoy it, and I get to meet some of the best people out there.”

Read more and photos:  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47804648/ns/today-good_news/#.T9t1A8X3u70