In the midst of the chaos of the Shetland Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, some four-footed friends and their families have reason to be thankful.

The community of Venables Valley, southwest of Ashcroft, was evacuated on the evening of Wednesday, July 17. Due to the speed at which the fire was moving, several pets were not able to be evacuated. At least one was in its cage and about to be evacuated, but in the stress and confusion managed to escape, and could not be recovered before its owners had to leave.

Over the next two days, BC Wildfire Service firefighters who were in the community fighting the fire came across several of these pets, including one dog with badly burned paws, as well as several cats.

鈥淎lthough they were not looking for animals, and had no real method of rescuing them, they help animals as well as people, and their hearts wouldn鈥檛 allow them to leave them behind,鈥� says Judanna Dawn. She owns Angel鈥檚 Animal Rescue near Merritt, about 100 kilometres from Ashcroft, and says she got a phone call in the middle of the night asking if a rescued dog could be brought to them.

鈥淲e already have 39 dogs on the premises, so getting a call in the middle of the night isn鈥檛 ideal, but they鈥檙e not willing to leave animals to suffer, and we鈥檙e ready to help. We鈥檒l make space. When an animal is suffering we can鈥檛 say no.鈥�

When the dog was brought in, Dawn says they soaked its paws to cool them down, then got them clean and dry, treated the dog with burn medication and antibiotics, and put protective mitts on all four paws.

鈥淏andages just weren鈥檛 going to cut it,鈥� says Dawn. 鈥淗e鈥檚 happier today, wagging his tail, giving us kisses, eating and drinking. He was exhausted, and still can鈥檛 walk, but he鈥檚 in better spirits.鈥�

All the animals that come in are being documented, and Dawn says they鈥檙e receiving calls about who belongs to who. 鈥淧eople aren鈥檛 in a position to take animals yet, so we鈥檙e making room until the owners can pick them up.鈥�

She adds that animals are still coming in to the shelter, as firefighters are still finding them.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e leaving animals that seem to be doing fine. Some sheep have migrated down to the school grounds, and the fellows are keeping an eye on the animals out there and bringing in the ones they find. Between them and us they鈥檒l have a chance.鈥�

Any Venables Valley residents who want to know if their pets have been found can call or text Angel鈥檚 Animal Rescue at (250) 378-5223.