A Bainbridge resident, Dr. Elizabeth Mihalcik, stepped forward to become a foster mom to a three-year-old female Great Pyrenees dog named Zuri, that had been turned in by her owner to a shelter in LaGrange, Ga. The dog had spent a month at the shelter without anyone coming forward to adopt her. Great Pyrenees can be hard to place, due to their size and demeanor.

Mihalcik learned about the dog through Facebook rescue contacts and made the drive to bring her to her home in Bainbridge. While in her foster care she had the dog micro-chipped, spayed and wormed, thanks to help from Colquitt Animal Hospital, Port City Animal Hospital and the Southwest Georgia Spay and Neuter Clinic.

Knowing that opportunities for homes for Zuri were few in Southwest Georgia, and that she was better suited to a colder climate, Mihalcik obtained help through the 11th Hour Rescue of New Jersey, where a new owner was found. The problem then became how to get her there. That is when Don’t be Cruel Animal Rescue & Transport in Louisiana came forward. It was not possible to do ground travel to New Jersey due to flooding from Hurricane Matthew. So, Terri, a Pilots and Paws Coordinator in Louisiana arranged for a flight out of Bainbridge Airport on October 23, with the help of two volunteer pilots.

Zuri even received a new do from Kimberly’s Pet Salon before her trip. She left Bainbridge at 11: 30 a.m., flying to Allendale, S.C., then on to Rockport, N.J. with the second pilot. They arrived in New Jersey at 9:15 p.m., where she was greeted by 11th Hour Rescue worker, Tammi Probst-Smith.

Zuri is now being adopted, thanks to all the folks who helped support this effort.