FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — When Jacui Stordock heard that some people fleeing the Fort McMurray wildfire were forced to leave their pets behind, she took action.
Stordock and some of her friends from Edmonton loaded up two pickups with animal carriers and drove north to help.
They soon had 10 dogs, two cats and five kittens in the trucks and were headed home Friday to take them to the Edmonton Humane Society.
“I know that if I had to leave my guy behind I would have wanted someone to go back and try and get them,” she said during a stop in Wandering River as her colleagues gave water to a howling Malamute and some thirsty St. Bernards.
“We went to as many houses as we could.”
Watch below: Fort McMurray wildfire: 4 horses, 3 dogs, 2 daughters and 1 mom make daring escape
Stordlock said most of the the pets had already been rescued so her group was helping by transporting those back to Edmonton. Others, they found.
Some evacuees have placed notices on social media about their pets in the hope that someone would care for them.
Misha Blades said in one home, the dogs hadn’t had food or water since Tuesday, when tens of thousands of people were forced from the city.
“They were getting pretty heated up in a little duplex all by themselves,” he said. “They were pretty stressed out.”
READ MORE: Fort McMurray exodus: 1 mom, 2 daughters, 4 horses, 3 dogs and a cat make wildfire escape
Blades said they know the owners of most of the pets and at some point their owners will claim them.
Some pet owners are so worried that they have been calling emergency lines asking for help.
RCMP were urging evacuees who are concerned about their pets to not call 911, but said Mounties patrolling Fort McMurray would do what they can for any animals they find.
READ MORE: RCMP go door to door to make sure everyone is out of Fort McMurray
Police said people should instead contact groups such as Supporters of Alberta Animal Rescues. There is also a Facebook page called Fort Mac-Fire Pet Rescue.
The Edmonton pet Samaritans fussed over their furry cargo, feeding the dogs treats and calming a nervous cat laying in a plastic laundry basket as she fed her brood of kittens. Keaton Souster was eager to get going so they could let the dogs out of their carriers.
Ariel Blondeau said it was great to help, but she knows that many pets are still in Fort McMurray with no one to look after them.
“I could just never imagine leaving my pet behind, ever,” she said.
“Even though we helped these guys we wish we had more room. We only got into a small area.”
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire: Pet owners desperate to save animals left behind
As of Saturday morning, the wildfire had grown to 156,000 hectares in size. Premier Rachel Notley said it was likely the fire would double in size by the end of day Saturday and possibly reach the Saskatchewan border.
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