Firestorm in Gocek - shelter evacuated !
Donation protected
Firestorm at the Dog Shelter in Gocek
Many of you will have heard of the terrible fires that have devasted a massive area around us in Gocek.
Late in the afternoon on Wednesday the fires were moving rapidly towards our shelter high in the mountains. The main access road to the shelter was closed by the authorities. The order to evacuate our 250 dogs was given and the call went out on social media for help.
Scores of local people arrived very quickly despite the risk of the approaching fires. A great deal of improvisation, quick thinking, determination and adrenaline ensured that the dogs were evacuated by cars, vans and trucks in the space of two and a half hours.
The dogs were taken to many places far and wide across the area; the football stadium, clinics, dog pensions, neighbouring shelters, and people’s homes. Everyone worked tirelessly and selflessly for hours and days to protect and care for the dogs.
Regrettably a large area of forest around the shelter has been destroyed and much of the wildlife will have perished in the flames or lost their habitat.
The authorities now seem to have the situation under control in an area 20km by 7km, and we are thankful that our shelter is safe.
We will now start to get our dogs back to the shelter.
This big operation is costing us a great deal of money and we need your help, can you please help and donate ?
Many of you will have heard of the terrible fires that have devasted a massive area around us in Gocek.
Late in the afternoon on Wednesday the fires were moving rapidly towards our shelter high in the mountains. The main access road to the shelter was closed by the authorities. The order to evacuate our 250 dogs was given and the call went out on social media for help.
Scores of local people arrived very quickly despite the risk of the approaching fires. A great deal of improvisation, quick thinking, determination and adrenaline ensured that the dogs were evacuated by cars, vans and trucks in the space of two and a half hours.
The dogs were taken to many places far and wide across the area; the football stadium, clinics, dog pensions, neighbouring shelters, and people’s homes. Everyone worked tirelessly and selflessly for hours and days to protect and care for the dogs.
Regrettably a large area of forest around the shelter has been destroyed and much of the wildlife will have perished in the flames or lost their habitat.
The authorities now seem to have the situation under control in an area 20km by 7km, and we are thankful that our shelter is safe.
We will now start to get our dogs back to the shelter.
This big operation is costing us a great deal of money and we need your help, can you please help and donate ?
Organizer
Christine Van Elsen Prescott
Organizer
La Louvière
