Judy Zimet, executive director of Dog is My Co-Pilot, was the featured speaker at the Sun Lakes Aero Club (SLAC) gathering December 15. Here she is shown with SLAC president Bob Walch.
Gary Vacin
More than 45 Sun Lakes aviation enthusiasts and dog lovers turned out to hear a presentation about an organization dedicated to saving dogs’ lives at the Sun Lakes Aero Club (SLAC) gathering December 15.
Featured speaker Judy Zimet, executive director of “Dog is my Co-Pilot (DIMC)” told the gathering that her organization flies animals from places where they are not wanted to locations where they are welcomed.
Zimet said DIMC has flown more than 2,000 unwanted animals to 21 airports in 10 Rocky Mountain and Pacific west states since the organization was founded two years ago by Dr. Peter Rork. Rork, the group’s sole pilot, flies a Turbo Cessna 206 Stationair on all DIMC flights.
DIMC coordinates with animal rescue organizations at origination and destination points. Flights originate at Rork’s airstrips in Wyoming and Montana. Some flights involve stops at two or three locations in each direction, dropping off and picking up animals at each stop.
“Each animal is placed in an individual kennel for the flight,” Zimet said. “We once flew 84 animals in one flight.”
“The animals do well during the flights. They probably don’t even know they’ve ever left the ground. They appear to be happy – after all, they’ve just left animal rescue shelters where their care was not the best.”
Now in its 18th year, SLAC sponsors programs the third Monday of each month November through April at the Sun Lakes Country Club. The programs are open to all Sun Lakes residents and others interested in aviation. More information on the club is available from Bob Walch at 895-8869 or Gary Vacin at 298-7017 or at the club’s website at www.sunlakesaeroclub.org.