The Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley is mourning the death of a pilot who died in a plane crash while trying to deliver three dogs from a high-kill shelter in the South, and has started raising funds for two of the canines that "miraculously" survived their "freedom flight." 

In a statement posted on Facebook Tuesday, the no-kill shelter in Howes Cave paid tribute to Seuk Kim, 49, who died Sunday night when the plane he was flying to Albany from Maryland crashed in a remote area of Windham, officials said.

"Anyone who knew Seuk knows that saving animals was his true passion and that he was a true hero within the animal rescue community," the statement says. "Everyone at ASSV is incredibly proud to have been a small part of the amazing work that he and his rescue partners in the south are doing."

Kim, of Springfield, Virginia, helped save hundreds of animals from animal shelters, according to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley (ASSV). It and other animal rescue colleagues and pilots are working to honor to figure Kim.

While a puppy named "Lisa" died in the plane crash, two dogs survived. 

"Whiskey," a 4-month-old lab mix, suffered two broken legs and will undergo surgeries in Connecticut, and "Pluto," a young yorkie/terrier mix, has been released to the ASSV with pulmonary contusions and bruising, according to the ASSV.

It is raising funds to cover the costs of their medical recoveries, which it estimated at about $30,000.