In a heartwarming turn of events following a tragic accident, two dogs who survived a flight crash that resulted in the death of their pilot have found loving new homes. The friends of the late pilot are working to honor his memory by promoting the rescue of more animals, as highlighted by the shelter’s director.
The unfortunate incident occurred on November 24 in New York’s Catskill Mountains, claiming the life of Seuk Kim, a devoted volunteer known for transporting pets from overwhelmed shelters and disaster areas to safe rescues. At the time of the crash, he was en route to deliver three dogs to an organization in the Albany area known as the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley aboard his 1986 Mooney M20J plane.
According to preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, Kim reported encountering moderate to heavy turbulence while flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet. He later descended to approximately 4,300 feet, indicating that conditions had improved to lighter turbulence. Unfortunately, after this communication, he did not reach out to air traffic control again nor did he issue any distress signals.
The two dogs who survived the harrowing flight are a Labrador-mix puppy named Whiskey and a young Yorkshire terrier mix named Pluto. While Pluto suffered internal bruising, Whiskey was discovered in the snow with two broken legs. The puppy received urgent surgical care at Pieper Memorial Veterinary emergency and specialty hospital located in Middletown, Connecticut.
Whiskey has made a remarkable recovery; following surgeries and extensive physical therapy, the six-month-old pup is now getting back on his feet and enjoying playtime at his foster home in Middletown. The family that has been caring for him is set to finalize his adoption this weekend. In contrast, Pluto bounced back quickly and was adopted just a few weeks later by a family in Averill Park, a community close to Albany, according to Maggie Jackman Pryor, executive director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley.
As for the third dog, a small canine named Lisa, her remains were respectfully handed over to Kim’s relatives at their request. Pryor stated that there has been a significant interest from individuals across the nation wishing to adopt the surviving dogs, but she encouraged some of these inquiries to consider adopting pets from local shelters instead. “These two dogs are extraordinary, but there are countless other amazing dogs out there looking for homes,” she emphasized during a phone interview.
In a bid to commemorate Kim’s legacy, his friends and fellow rescue pilots are in the process of establishing an organization. Pryor mentioned exciting plans that include hosting mobile spay and neuter clinics and developing pet food pantries, similar to the initiatives Kim had started with his children.
