Sparkes.CA
Sassy and "The Beast"! #yympets, #yymfire
On May 3rd I was at a photo exhibit and my intuition was telling me to check my phone. I ignored it until I left the event.
I saw the text there was news of a fire near our home in Fort McMurray and surrounding area. Fires in and around Fort McMurray is common in the spring, sad to say.
I text my hubby and did not get a reply. Texted a friend and was told ALL OF FORT MCMURRAY IS UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION!
Oh God, not the words you want to hear when 6,500 kilometres away and knowing there is a pet (Sassy) still in the house. Shortly after I heard from hubby and he was ok and waiting for more information. Hoping he could get Sassy. Under mandatory evacuation you cannot return to home.
I am sitting in my car, tears streaming down my face and the only thing I can think of is Sassy and cannot remember the number of times I said, Dear God, please save Sassy! I texted friends and said PRAY like you never have before!
I did not think of the house or material possession at that moment. Hubby was safe for now and Sassy's safety and well-being is all that matter now.
Nobody was permitted to return to their homes to retrieve pets or anything else, they were forced to leave town, through walls of flames and fire and not look back. Bruce could see our house as he was evacuated from town and could not get our girl. I don't know how he did it. I would have been out of the vehicle, across the field separating us and in the house. And probably stopped in mid tracks but could not imagine just driving past and not trying.
Sassy is 11, an indoor cat and the only time away from home was when we were evacuated two years ago due to flood conditions. She was traumatized being with us.
During the day/night of the 'beast' destroying our area of town I sat in front of the television watching CBC news. Watching the hillside of trees that I loved and saw every day from my kitchen window go up in flames.
Report of Beaconhill and Abasand being destroyed. We are smack in the middle of the two.
Someone called me and told me they knew for a fact our house had burned to the ground. I cried again, and again prayed that Sassy did not suffer!
I went to bed 3:30 local time and up at 6:30 - believing that Bruce was safe, beloved Sassy and our home was gone.
Then I remembered I had the ashes of two other pets (Crispin my Landseer Newfoundland, and Bru, one of my cats). I felt as if I had lost them all over again and sobbed my heart out.
During a call of comfort from a sister-in-law I saw on the news that only one house in our sub-division had burned. Immediately I thought NOT OURS! Sassy is alive and now I have to get her out. I cried with joy!
Note the date and time, I joined fb as that was the only way to complete one rescue request form. I tried to contact the Fort McMurray SPCA and others but could not. Filled in requests online. No response!!!
On Saturday, May 7 (4 days later) I received a call from someone stating they were at our home to rescue Sassy. The best words one could hear! Asking if there is a key, no, will can we have permission to break in, of course, just get Sassy.
Two anxious hours later another call. We got in but could not find Sassy. No surprise, she would have gone hiding in the best of places when a stranger is breaking into your home! He stated he would set a live trap for her, had found a key to the door and asked permission to keep it to access house. Of course, just get Sassy out.
That was the last I heard. There was nothing on the news about pet rescue, only that 'rogue' pet rescuers were being stopped by RCMP and sent out of town. The rogues rescued and reunited a lot of pets and I wished I had contact with them!
Sleep deprived and frantic over Sassy and started reaching out again and got automated replies to complete the rescue form that I had already completed.
Two days later I received a text on my cell phone "garage code please". I thought, odd. Texted and ask why. Reply to rescue Sassy. I thought how odd, and asked them to call me.
A woman called stating the exact words I had heard on Saturday! I thought suspicious, and questioned them on it and informed I had gone through this on Saturday and a living hell waiting to hear of Sassy's status. She promised to follow up and assured me Sassy had been rescued.
Oh ye of little faith here was getting very doubtful as all over social media and the news there were reports pet rescuers were not permitted in town. What is a person supposed to believe?
May 8th, all over social media reports that 244 pets rescued and transported to Edmonton on Sunday May 8th - early morning. Owners would be notified 'soon' where they could pick up loved pets.
On May 10th still no call to pick up Sassy. No answer to messages, no answer to emails...nothing! So then the doubt and fear sets in - Sassy was not alive, not rescued. And a mixture of tears and anger.
You watch CBC interview a man that is located within a five-minute walk from our house, stayed to save his home and opening admitted entering other homes removing food.
Then panic, oh god I have given permission to break into house, what is going to happen now with insurance? We all know insurance companies do not want to pay unless they have to...so I was thinking at the time.
Just as there was a sense of relief that house was still standing, recognizing there would be extensive smoke damage; our mayor informs us, "just because your house is standing does not mean it is livable, excessive smoke damage, possible excessive water damage, and the risk of mold as we would not return any time soon.
Oh despair, where is little Sassy? Eyes still glued to CBC and social media, hoping!!!
My hubby had gone to Alberta SPCA - no office at the address listed on their website. He called, I checked 411, gave him another address. He went, called and said there was a sign on the door of that address referring to the location he just left. So where is Alberta SPCA? No physical location to be found! No phones being answered! Not returning email messages!
More despair. Where is Sassy? Is she alive? Was she rescued?
May 10th was one of the longest day I have endured. I was very skeptical at this point.
I received a call at 7:27 p.m. NL time stating this is Alberta SPCA (I am thinking, oh sure!).
A young woman asked if I could confirm whether I had filed a request for pet rescue? I replied SASSY!!!
She announced with joy, we have Sassy!
I said through sobs and tears streaming down my face, please tell me this is not a sick prank! I know, not very nice...
We cried together while she gave me the address to get Sassy, bring ID with home address and a kennel. She could not tell me Sassy's condition as she was at a different location.
I called hubby and uttered through sobs "GO GET SASSY! Told him to check text for instructions and location!
Ordered him to call me when he saw her to confirm that it was our Sassy, the Doubting Thomas here!
I waited another hour and half. A call, yes it is our SASSY. In rough condition, dehydrated, lethargic, barely lifted her head when she heard his voice. She dearly loves her daddy.
Little wonder she was traumatized, days of smoke and sirens and lord knows what else. Alone.
Live trapped, handled by strangers, sent to Edmonton in the back of a transport truck (5 hours travel) along with 243 other pets/animals, handled by strangers again!
But finally, "my daddy"!
Last I spoke to Bruce last night she had not come out of the kennel, (lots of noise at place he is staying) but was sitting up and looking around!
Special thanks to the heros that saved our little girl! Words cannot express our gratitude!
Thanks to the first-response teams!
Prayer for pets and families to be reunited. Prayer for the animals and wildlife/birds!
Prayer for rain to drown the beast of a fire that will not stop!
Stay safe.
I have respiratory problems and do not know when I will be able to return to AB. BUT what matters is our loved ones and pets are safe...
Enjoy your day, hug someone you love, hug your pet! Appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.
Sassy and "The Beast"! #yympets, #yymfire
On May 3rd I was at a photo exhibit and my intuition was telling me to check my phone. I ignored it until I left the event.
I saw the text there was news of a fire near our home in Fort McMurray and surrounding area. Fires in and around Fort McMurray is common in the spring, sad to say.
I text my hubby and did not get a reply. Texted a friend and was told ALL OF FORT MCMURRAY IS UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION!
Oh God, not the words you want to hear when 6,500 kilometres away and knowing there is a pet (Sassy) still in the house. Shortly after I heard from hubby and he was ok and waiting for more information. Hoping he could get Sassy. Under mandatory evacuation you cannot return to home.
I am sitting in my car, tears streaming down my face and the only thing I can think of is Sassy and cannot remember the number of times I said, Dear God, please save Sassy! I texted friends and said PRAY like you never have before!
I did not think of the house or material possession at that moment. Hubby was safe for now and Sassy's safety and well-being is all that matter now.
Nobody was permitted to return to their homes to retrieve pets or anything else, they were forced to leave town, through walls of flames and fire and not look back. Bruce could see our house as he was evacuated from town and could not get our girl. I don't know how he did it. I would have been out of the vehicle, across the field separating us and in the house. And probably stopped in mid tracks but could not imagine just driving past and not trying.
Sassy is 11, an indoor cat and the only time away from home was when we were evacuated two years ago due to flood conditions. She was traumatized being with us.
During the day/night of the 'beast' destroying our area of town I sat in front of the television watching CBC news. Watching the hillside of trees that I loved and saw every day from my kitchen window go up in flames.
Report of Beaconhill and Abasand being destroyed. We are smack in the middle of the two.
Someone called me and told me they knew for a fact our house had burned to the ground. I cried again, and again prayed that Sassy did not suffer!
I went to bed 3:30 local time and up at 6:30 - believing that Bruce was safe, beloved Sassy and our home was gone.
Then I remembered I had the ashes of two other pets (Crispin my Landseer Newfoundland, and Bru, one of my cats). I felt as if I had lost them all over again and sobbed my heart out.
During a call of comfort from a sister-in-law I saw on the news that only one house in our sub-division had burned. Immediately I thought NOT OURS! Sassy is alive and now I have to get her out. I cried with joy!
Note the date and time, I joined fb as that was the only way to complete one rescue request form. I tried to contact the Fort McMurray SPCA and others but could not. Filled in requests online. No response!!!
On Saturday, May 7 (4 days later) I received a call from someone stating they were at our home to rescue Sassy. The best words one could hear! Asking if there is a key, no, will can we have permission to break in, of course, just get Sassy.
Two anxious hours later another call. We got in but could not find Sassy. No surprise, she would have gone hiding in the best of places when a stranger is breaking into your home! He stated he would set a live trap for her, had found a key to the door and asked permission to keep it to access house. Of course, just get Sassy out.
That was the last I heard. There was nothing on the news about pet rescue, only that 'rogue' pet rescuers were being stopped by RCMP and sent out of town. The rogues rescued and reunited a lot of pets and I wished I had contact with them!
Sleep deprived and frantic over Sassy and started reaching out again and got automated replies to complete the rescue form that I had already completed.
Two days later I received a text on my cell phone "garage code please". I thought, odd. Texted and ask why. Reply to rescue Sassy. I thought how odd, and asked them to call me.
A woman called stating the exact words I had heard on Saturday! I thought suspicious, and questioned them on it and informed I had gone through this on Saturday and a living hell waiting to hear of Sassy's status. She promised to follow up and assured me Sassy had been rescued.
Oh ye of little faith here was getting very doubtful as all over social media and the news there were reports pet rescuers were not permitted in town. What is a person supposed to believe?
May 8th, all over social media reports that 244 pets rescued and transported to Edmonton on Sunday May 8th - early morning. Owners would be notified 'soon' where they could pick up loved pets.
On May 10th still no call to pick up Sassy. No answer to messages, no answer to emails...nothing! So then the doubt and fear sets in - Sassy was not alive, not rescued. And a mixture of tears and anger.
You watch CBC interview a man that is located within a five-minute walk from our house, stayed to save his home and opening admitted entering other homes removing food.
Then panic, oh god I have given permission to break into house, what is going to happen now with insurance? We all know insurance companies do not want to pay unless they have to...so I was thinking at the time.
Just as there was a sense of relief that house was still standing, recognizing there would be extensive smoke damage; our mayor informs us, "just because your house is standing does not mean it is livable, excessive smoke damage, possible excessive water damage, and the risk of mold as we would not return any time soon.
Oh despair, where is little Sassy? Eyes still glued to CBC and social media, hoping!!!
My hubby had gone to Alberta SPCA - no office at the address listed on their website. He called, I checked 411, gave him another address. He went, called and said there was a sign on the door of that address referring to the location he just left. So where is Alberta SPCA? No physical location to be found! No phones being answered! Not returning email messages!
More despair. Where is Sassy? Is she alive? Was she rescued?
May 10th was one of the longest day I have endured. I was very skeptical at this point.
I received a call at 7:27 p.m. NL time stating this is Alberta SPCA (I am thinking, oh sure!).
A young woman asked if I could confirm whether I had filed a request for pet rescue? I replied SASSY!!!
She announced with joy, we have Sassy!
I said through sobs and tears streaming down my face, please tell me this is not a sick prank! I know, not very nice...
We cried together while she gave me the address to get Sassy, bring ID with home address and a kennel. She could not tell me Sassy's condition as she was at a different location.
I called hubby and uttered through sobs "GO GET SASSY! Told him to check text for instructions and location!
Ordered him to call me when he saw her to confirm that it was our Sassy, the Doubting Thomas here!
I waited another hour and half. A call, yes it is our SASSY. In rough condition, dehydrated, lethargic, barely lifted her head when she heard his voice. She dearly loves her daddy.
Little wonder she was traumatized, days of smoke and sirens and lord knows what else. Alone.
Live trapped, handled by strangers, sent to Edmonton in the back of a transport truck (5 hours travel) along with 243 other pets/animals, handled by strangers again!
But finally, "my daddy"!
Last I spoke to Bruce last night she had not come out of the kennel, (lots of noise at place he is staying) but was sitting up and looking around!
Special thanks to the heros that saved our little girl! Words cannot express our gratitude!
Thanks to the first-response teams!
Prayer for pets and families to be reunited. Prayer for the animals and wildlife/birds!
Prayer for rain to drown the beast of a fire that will not stop!
Stay safe.
I have respiratory problems and do not know when I will be able to return to AB. BUT what matters is our loved ones and pets are safe...
Enjoy your day, hug someone you love, hug your pet! Appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.