Anchorman leaves television to rescue dogs, bears and bald eagles

For more than 30 years, Ken Wayne was a familiar face of Bay Area television news. While the longtime anchorman — who retired this spring — is off the air now, he plans to spend a good chunk of his free time up in the air — saving abused and abandoned animals one small planeload at a time.

Wayne, 63, founded Flying Tails six years ago and has flown all over the state helping rescue dozens of dogs, bear cubs, raccoons and even a bald eagle. The animals he transports are either injured, abandoned...