The life and work of Seuk Kim, pilot and animal rescuer : NPR

Seuk Kim saved lives.

Mr. Kim was 49 years outdated, and initially from South Korea. He and his spouse, Anna Kang, had three kids, and lived in Springfield, Va. He labored in advertising and marketing and public relations, and liked flying. He started to volunteer to fly rescue canine missions about 4 years in the past, piloting as many as three flights per week, so he may carry canine for whom there was no room at a shelter, to locations that will take them in.

He was on the controls of a small plane final Sunday night time when it crashed within the snow of the Catskill Mountains. A number of rescued canine have been onboard, who Mr. Kim was flying from Maryland to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley in Howes Cave, N.Y.

“Over time, Seuk helped to save lots of the lives of a whole bunch of animals who would have in any other case been euthanized as a result of overcrowding at animal shelters,” Maggie Pryor, director of the shelter, advised us.

I feel Mr. Kim might need been pleased to have us know that Whiskey, a 4-month-old Labrador combine pet, survived the crash. He has two damaged legs, however is recovering. And Pluto, an 18-month-old Terrier combine, additionally survived, and will have already got been adopted. A small pet named Lisa, sadly, didn’t survive.

I did a narrative as soon as on animal rescue flights. They are often shifting and galvanizing, but additionally messy and loud. Canine and cats do not know they’re being rescued. The noise and rumble of the airplane can upset them. There could be numerous laughing, and numerous howling, and pilots of these flights have a particular dedication.

This summer season, Mr. Kim flew a golden retriever who grew to become generally known as Connie the container canine to security. She had been heard scratching and barking, after over per week inside a transport container on the Port of Houston. Connie ultimately misplaced her life to a fungal an infection, however she lived to present delivery to eight puppies.

And simply final month, Mr. Kim flew a canine and her 5 puppies who have been scheduled to be euthanized at an overcrowded shelter in Tennessee to a rescue middle in Maryland.

Sydney Galley, who additionally works rescue flights, advised The Related Press that Seuk Kim, “… by no means wanted recognition. He simply needed to assist.”

Anna Kang wrote on Fb that within the crash of his airplane, her husband gained his “angel wings.” The animals Mr. Kim flew by way of the skies couldn’t use phrases to ask for assist. However he heard about them and introduced them to heat and security.