When Fire Forced Families to Flee, Pagosa's Humane Society Said Yes

On July 28, the Rio Blanco Fire ignited south of Pagosa Springs and quickly threatened nearby homes. Residents along County Road 335 in the Lower Blanco area were ordered to evacuate, while surrounding neighborhoods were warned to be ready to leave.

The fire eventually burned 1,388 acres, displacing some families for more than a week. Thanks to firefighters and emergency crews, no structures were lost.

With little time to prepare, families grabbed the essentials, gathered their animals and had to figure out where to go. For those with pets, that brought another challenge: many temporary accommodations don't accept animals. Some families also faced the heartbreak of leaving behind cats they couldn't catch in time.

That's when the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs stepped in.

The shelter took in approximately 40 animals displaced by the fire, many for more than 10 days, giving their families one less thing to worry about during an already frightening time.

And the Humane Society made room.

More Than a Place to Stay

Caring for that many additional animals required much more than finding extra kennel space.

Staff worked overtime, staying late into the evening to receive evacuated animals and returning early in the morning to care for them.

Unlike animals entering a shelter through its normal intake process, these were family pets suddenly living in an unfamiliar environment after an already stressful experience. Staff had to manage individual foods and medications while carefully keeping evacuation pets and shelter animals healthy and safe.

Whenever possible, families were allowed to visit their animals, providing comfort to pets and people alike.

But some of the hardest moments weren't logistical at all.

They were emotional.

A Community Steps Up

Elizabeth Kirwin, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs, remembers the first night most vividly.

Some families arrived with one dog. Others brought five, from puppies to seniors, along with many cats. Some people were still worried about cats they had been unable to catch before evacuating.

Everyone was emotional and scared.

"We cried with them and shared lots of hugs," Elizabeth recalls.

Many families arrived with neighbors or relatives who had helped them evacuate. Others were already talking about going back to help find pets that had been left behind.

"People really showed up for each other."

For Humane Society staff, being able to take one enormous worry off those families' shoulders made the long hours worthwhile.

Then Another Emergency

At the same time, another frightening situation brought six more animals into the Humane Society's care.

A woman traveling over Wolf Creek Pass was pulling a trailer when it caught fire. She went into the trailer in an effort to save her animals and ultimately had to be hospitalized on the Front Range.

First responders were able to give her one critical piece of reassurance: the animals she had risked her life to save would be safe at the Humane Society until family members could come for them.

In the middle of an emergency, sometimes a few words can mean everything:

Your animals are safe. We'll take care of them.

More Than an Animal Shelter

We often think of animal shelters as places that care for homeless animals. But in a small community, their role can reach much further.

When disaster strikes, a local shelter can suddenly become a lifeline for families with nowhere safe to take their pets. That requires trained staff, space, supplies and the ability to respond when the unexpected happens.

During the Rio Blanco Fire, the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs became exactly that: a safe place for animals and one less worry for families facing an uncertain night.

Lew Dog Gives Is Proud to Support Pagosa

Thanks to you, Lew Dog Gives recently provided $1,000 in support to the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs. That gift was matched, doubling its impact to $2,000 for an organization our community depends on every day, and especially during moments like these.

Stories like this are why we believe in supporting trusted local organizations. You never know when the next emergency will come.

But when it does, you want someone there who will say: “We'll take care of them.”

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Help Them Be Ready

The Humane Society of Pagosa Springs provides shelter, care and support for animals throughout our community, including when unexpected emergencies create an urgent need.

Support the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs and help ensure they can continue being there when animals and their families need them most.

And when you support Lew Dog Gives, you help us identify and fund trusted organizations doing meaningful work for animals in the communities they serve.