Loading ...
BlogPaws Denver Begins Amid Horrific Fires; Drastic Tolls of Missing Pets
It’s a bittersweet time for all of us pet bloggers here at BlogPaws West in Denver. There’s an undeniable energy of underlying excitement for the upcoming days’ events, speakers, informational sessions, networking and classic fun times; however, there also exists a feeling of hoplessness as there are HUNDREDS or animals – namely cats, dogs and horses, either missing in the wild, and/or feared dead in the uncontained potent flames of the wildfire in Boulder that’s been raging and spreading since Labor Day weekend.
Some believe their precious pets may be gone forever, as many residents were out of town for the holiday and couldn’t return home to gather their pets. On top of that, most evacuation centers do not accept family pets… I can’t politely share my feelings on that without breaking my own rules for content on this blog. What I will say is this:
Where does that leave those families? Where does that leave the thousands of family pets? It’s a horrifying thought…
This only makes me more fired up to Be the Change – which is the brilliant BlogPaws’ founders’ idea and program to change the way we treat our animals; let’s start giving animals the treatment they deserve. Starting NOW.
People in Boulder, CO, where the fires originated, have worked for decades on their beautiful foothill landscapes; the area is also widely known for horse-breeding, sheltering, lessons, etc as well.
The Boulder Valley Humane Society is completely overwhelmed — so much so that national organizations like American Humane Association and others have sent loads of their rescue/emergency “units” to gather wandering/lost pets coming down the hills, or to accept them from families seeking shelter in the evacuation who cannot take them.
According to AHA’s website:
“American Humane Association issued grants to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and the Longmont Humane Society. Both organizations have worked tirelessly to ensure that evacuated pets were sheltered and cared for during the disaster, and
American Humane Emergency Relief Agents Assist Soot-Covered Pups
the grants will help cover the costs of providing this vital support to families and pets.
American Humane Association would also like to commend the dedicated and diligent efforts of the management and officers of Boulder County Animal Control to rescue and care for pets stranded and displaced by the fire. Their efforts have truly been heroic.”
This pilot's efforts seem mute considering the size of the blaze.
Adn per the Greeley Tribune, as of last night there were 6,200 breath-taking acres of Boulder land ablaze, up to 10 people misssing, and over 3,500 evacuated. The real number of animals missing or feared dead is even higher some suspect…
The firefighters are also fighting another beastly danger: Rattlesnakes… Apparently there are groups of them forming and making their way down out of the flames, attacking clans of tired yet fearless firefighters trying to save some hillside homes in a heroic mission.
So please, let’s all say a prayer right now for all the people who have lost their homes, their pets, possibly their entire lives, or anything else. Also let’s pray for the multitude of firefighters from all over the West who’ve convened here. And for the unknown number of beloved pets who crossed the Bridge way before their time was up…
Please call the Boulder Valley Humane Society ASAP even if you just send them $5.00. Click here to see their donation page.
Every little bit helps. You can also make a donation to the AHA team that’s on-site.
Words escape us at this moment. Except how sad.
Choking up. I intend to donate right away. So terrible.
How horribly sad this all is!
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
How are the recovered animals going to be reunited with their families? It would be a good idea to have one central location ONLINE where people could post recovered animals and photos of missing animals. Maybe FaceBook would work . . .
This is terribly sad. We are praying for all concerned.
So awful this is.
Sending love and prayers GJ and Carol xx
This is awful. I thought after Katerina evacuation centers had started taking pets. Our thoughts and purrs n prayers are with the pets and their families.~Alasandra & AFSS
What a terrible tragic tragedy. We are so very sad to hear this news and are sending prayers and purrs for all the animals and their families.
So very sad and scary. We’re praying and purring for everyone in that area.
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids
This is very sad. Purring for everyone.
My first thought was where are the pets and animals in the fire? So sad that human shelters still haven’t gotten Katrina’s message!