EDMONTON – Northern Alberta got an early start to its annual wildfire season last week when tinder dry conditions sparked several blazes, some were concerning enough to trigger evacuations, leaving dozens of people displaced.
But in the rush to get away from the fire threat, people who own animals were presented with an even more difficult situation.
Among those people were a family from Paul First Nation, west of Edmonton, who own a pony named Thunder.
READ MORE: Wildfire forces residents of Paul First Nation from their homes
“The fire was very close to their house, it actually burned down their utility pole,” Sasha Campbell of Zoe’s Animal Rescue said of the family’s predicament. “Denis, the grandfather, ran down the road with Thunder on a lead to a safer area and he called us for help.”
Campbell said the animal rescue took to social media to see if anyone would be able to accommodate Thunder on such short notice and that’s when Rene Meloche, a volunteer with Zoe’s Animal Rescue, came in to help.
“I heard there was a pony in the area that needed a home during the fires, so I hooked up my trailer and went and got her,” Meloche said.
In total, last week’s fires saw Zoe’s Animal Rescue take in eight dogs and two cats as well.
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“It would be horrible as a family if you were in fear of losing your home, leave your animals that you love,” Campbell said of the crucial role her rescue was able to play while evacuations were taking place.
READ MORE: Parkland County air quality advisory after wildfire evacuation order
“Without volunteers, there’s no place for these animals to go,” Meloche added. “she (Thunder) would have been stuck in that situation and who knows that would have happened to her.”
Meloche will soon be giving Thunder back to her family, which includes the pony’s closest friend – a young girl who has battled cancer in the past.
“Their belief is the bright blue eyes can be healing,” Campbell said of the family. “The grandfather got this horse for his granddaughter. His granddaughter is actually free of cancer right now and they have a strong belief that Thunder was a part of that as well as the Stollery (Children’s Hospital.)”
To visit Zoe’s Animal Rescue’s website or to donate or help out, click here.
With files from Quinn Ohler.
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