as published on The Dodo
They were so relieved to be safe ❤️
Firefighter Chris Harvey and Sacramento Fire Chief Gary Loesch were driving down Honey Run Road in Paradise, California, on Saturday when they came across something entirely unexpected.
Just days before, the deadly Camp Fire had ripped through the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Paradise, leaving behind the charred remains of homes and husks of cars. The fast-moving blaze had claimed both human and animal lives, transforming a town of retirees and young families into something eerily deserted.
Or so they thought.
The Camp Fire Burning in Northern California ~ Facebook/Sacramento Fire Department
While en route to investigate an accident caused by a falling tree, Harvey and Loesch spotted two weary animals emerging from the smoke.
The donkeys were slowly hobbling down the center of the road in the opposite direction, and it was clear to Harvey that they were very lost.
Firefighter Chris Harvey approaches two lost donkeys ~ Facebook/Sacramento Fire Department
“We pulled over to let them pass, and saw that they looked very tired, worn out and thirsty,” Harvey told The Dodo. “I tried to give them some water in my hand from a water bottle, but it kept spilling out.”
Firefighter feeds donkeys lost during Camp Fire ~ Facebook/Sacramento Fire Department
Harvey knew that after what the donkeys had been through the animals needed more than a few sips of water, so he grabbed the apples out of his and Loesch’s sack lunches and fed them to the donkeys.
Immediately, Harvey could see the difference that his little act of kindness made to the survivors.
Fireman rescues lost donkeys during Camp Fire in California ~ Facebook/Sacramento Fire Department
“They ate the apples quickly and seemed grateful for the snack,” Harvey said. “We called base camp and had them dispatch animal control officers to get the donkeys.”
Facebook/Sacramento Fire DepartmentHarvey and Loesch waited with the donkeys until they were safely in the care of animal control. Though it is unknown whether the donkeys will be able to reunite with their family, their rescue is a ray of hope when people need it most.
Categories: Equine Rescue, The Force of the Horse, Uncategorized
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Kindness is rewarding. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This group comes highly recommended to me by someone that has worked with them in past years.
North Valley Animal Disaster Group
Hotline (530) 895-0000
Donate on our website or send a check to NVADG, PO Box 441, Chico, CA 95927.
https://www.nvadg.org/
http://www.mynspr.org/post/north-valley-animal-disaster-group-continues-rescue-camp-fires-animals#stream/0
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have heard of this group on Whole Dog Journal blog – sounds like a very good place to donate to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe a lot of us could sort of “set a place” at our Thanksgiving tables for those in need by calculating what one meal would cost and donating that amount? Thousands of people (and animals) will not be having Thanksgiving at home this year as a result of these fires. Think how far even a couple of apples went in this story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said and exactly right!
Instead of “shopping” for gifts for friends at the big box stores during the holidays – send a donation to those in need and then give a card to the person saying they were remembered by a donation to a reputable rescue organization. I have done this myself over the years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, PLEASE make a donation to North Valley Animal Disaster Group and not HSUS. I am the Animal Services Manager for the City of Chico and I can tell you that NVADG is a well established LOCAL organization that not only has responded to many fires here in Butte County, but disasters all over the country and the world. They are well trained, well organized, and are housing almost 2,000 animals displaced from the fire. We took in the animals evacuated from the Paradise Animal Shelter, but without them, our shelter and the county shelter would have been totally OVERWHELMED with animals from the fire.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Tracy!
LikeLike
Gods compassion and kindness is to be extended to all creatures, both human and non human. This has always been the heart of the Lord, far beyond what many would understand. Animals feel. remember, understand and can see into the hearts of people, If Gods heart of compassion and kindness extends to all creatures, both human and nonhuman, how much more should ours. It is not a choice, of one over another, but rather an act that proceeds from the heart, whenever and whereever it is needed. Kindness to one or a few creates a cascade effect, whether by planting seeds of kindness, or opening the eyes of the heart to another to see the nec\essity of doing it for another. How many times for all of us has a frightened, injured animal, of whatever species snuggled in our arms, for a safe haven. The true accounts of others in this go far and wide, and if I can use the phraseology, would blow our minds. This story is beautiful and others along these lines, an inspiration to me. My heart aches to do more. Life is not about ourselves, to keep our lives in a nice neat little box. Life is about making a positive difference, or to quote the prophet Isaiah” To loosen the bands of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke. This, again is to be extended to all crearures, human, and non human.
LikeLiked by 1 person
PLease forgive my typing errors
LikeLike
We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate for having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein do we err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with the extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.”
― Henry Beston
LikeLike