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Great Dog Escape from
California Fire Zone
California Fires Spur New Adoption Homes for Dogs in Colorado An amazing group of animal rescuers, shelter workers, first responders and local vets all worked together to pull off what has been dubbed "The Great Dog Escape" from the fire ravaged areas in California.
Lt. Col. Mike Pagano, Search and Rescue, MuttShack, described frightening stories as he assisted people fleeing their homes with their pets.
The October 2007 California wildfires
destroyed over 1,500 homes and burned over 500,000 acres of land.
Nine people died as a direct result of the fire. But the ongoing tragedy was the hardship on those who lost homes in the fires, compounded by massive foreclosures and personal hardships in the area which made new homes for dogs hard to find. Many dog owners in the California fire zone were forced to surrender their pets, some taking them to local shelters and others by advertising in the media and on the internet. The rescue group saved 68 dogs from the San Diego, Los Angeles, and Santa Clarita fire zones. Multiple groups played their individual but critical part in the rescue to recover surrenders, find homes and assist in care and transport to move pets to new homes in the State of Colorado. MuttShack volunteer Lucy Pribbenow visited San Diego families who had made the difficult choice to surrender their dogs. Dogs came in all shapes and sizes, from Chihuahuas, to boxers and even a Great Dane. Many of them took a long time to say goodbye.  
Families say goodbye... Volunteers, Ann Gardner, and Dr. Jim Gardner, drove the pets released from the Chula Vista area shelters after they were spayed and neutered to meet the transport leaving from Los Angeles. California Shelters Cooperate to Release Dogs Jacky DeHaviland of Animal Alliance, also selected animals from Los Angeles area shelters. Under the New Hope program, dogs may be released to qualified rescue groups. Jacky selected the elderly, the sick, the dogs who had been in the shelter the longest, and even a few at risk puppies. But no-one could go anywhere without transport crates! Barbara Fought of PetSmart Charities provided small crates for transporting the many small dogs. All dogs were spayed and neutered except those that had medical waivers. Dr. Heather Applegate from All Creatures Emergency Center in Santa Clarita Valley, and Dr. Rawlinson from VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, examined the dogs and provided their health certificates to travel out of the state.
Jacky DeHaviland with dogs ready for the transport. In Colorado all the adoption families undergo rigorous screening and home checks before they can adopt from the partnering Denkai Animal Sanctuary. Many homes have been pre-screened and most of the dogs will go directly into their new homes.
Animal House, Ali Eccleston, was
responsible for coordinating volunteers to take care of the
dogs while they awaited placement with foster families,
collecting donations ($1200), arranging for foster homes,
procuring the warehouse where the dogs stayed for several
days and many administrative services, including contacts with
the local media. Animal House and her volunteers has taken on
the responsibility placing of 14 dogs, spaying and neutering,
microchipping, heartworm testing and treating if necessary,
deworming and providing for unforeseen medical care. Please help us Rescue!
Transporters, Cherry Garcia, Lucy Pribbenow, and Amanda St. John of MuttShack Animal Rescue. Thank You To These Sponsors of the California Dog Rescue
You can help us place a heartbroken pet in a new home. There is still a huge need for financial assistance, to complete this mission, pay for a knee replacement surgery, and a hernia operation and to plan for more. |
RESCUED !
CLICK
TO ADOPT
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