Dog-save Afternoon

Sonoma Index-Tribune April 17, 2021

In 2005, the nation’s attention was riveted by the devastation of hurricane Katrina. It is estimated that 600,000 animals perished in the storm. And of the 1,833 human causalities, it’s estimated that 44 percent perished because they refused to leave their pets, according to veterinarian and animal rescue trainer Rebecca McConnico of Louisiana Tech University. Since then, wildfires in the West have joined hurricanes in their frequency and intensity.

Animal disaster responders from throughout California gathered at the Atwood Ranch in Glen Ellen last week to hear from McConnico and to take part in several days of hands-on training, courtesy of founder Julie Atwood’s Halter Project, which sponsored the event and provided full scholarships for the more than 60 attendees.

Participants included volunteer animal disaster responders, sheriff search and rescue (SAR), mounted officers, animal control officers, veterinarians, UC Davis vet students, firefighters and members of the state National Guard 26th Cavalry Division. READ MORE.