A deaf senior dog is lucky to be alive after accidentally being left behind when his shelter was evacuated during the Los Angeles wildfires.
Henree's story was first brought to light by CUDDLY, a fundraising and wish list platform sending aid and supplies to nonprofit animal rescues and dogs like Henree.
He was one of over 60 dogs who were residing at a local shelter in L.A. when the fires broke out. With the fires moving dangerously fast and in an unpredictable manner, the small team of staff members at the shelter had little choice but to evacuate the pets there, putting their own lives at risk in the process.
"Some people were only given a 30-minute warning before they had to evacuate, and this shelter had over 60 animals that needed to be transported out," a spokesperson for CUDDLY told Newsweek.
"Because Henree is deaf, he didn't hear the commotion of the evacuation. While every other dog was barking in their kennel, Henree was sitting quietly. Unfortunately, in the chaos of the evacuation, Henree was left behind by mistake."
When the staff members at Henree's shelter realized the mistake, they were inconsolable.
"These fires were moving extremely fast and causing unprecedented destruction. We're sure that the staff was terrified for their own lives and trying to work as quickly as possible," CUDDLY said.
"What happened to Henree was a horrible mistake in a crisis situation. The shelter staff were sick with worry over it and did everything they could to get him out as quickly as possible!"
Having realized their mistake, staff reached out to local rescue groups in the hope that someone would be able to go back in and fetch Henree.
For 24 long hours, he waited. Though the senior dog may be deaf, the lack of fellow dogs and smoke that began to fill the shelter would likely have alerted him to there being a significant problem.
Thankfully, though, rescuers from Starts With One Today got to Henree before it was too late. He was alive but had suffered significant smoke inhalation.
Henree was rushed to safety and taken to a vet where he received some much-needed oxygen treatment. Now, after his ordeal, Henree's future is looking considerably brighter.
CUDDLY has confirmed Henree is now recuperating in a foster home. "He will not go back to the shelter and will remain in the care of the rescue until he is healthy enough to be adopted," the spokesperson said.
CUDDLY is supporting Starts With One Today's fundraising efforts for Henree's care, as well as their work to support animals and pet families impacted by the wildfires.
Henree's story follows on from another featured on Newsweek that focused on a dog and her four newborn puppies who were found abandoned on the side of a highway close to the blazes.
There was also the story of Casey Colvin, who found his beloved dog Oreo alive, after five days of searching for him amid the fallout from the wildfires.
English (US) ·