Disaster Response Team Returns From Watch Fire Deployment

On Thursday, July 11, a fire suspected to have been a result of arson broke out in the rural area surrounding the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Now known as the Watch Fire, the blaze spread quickly, prompting widespread evacuation orders across the community. In the days that followed, flames engulfed over 2,000 acres of reservation land. Many homes and vehicles have been lost to the fire, displacing dozens of families and their pets.

Our Disaster Response Team deployed to assist with medical care and sheltering evacuated pets on Sunday, July 14. Five team members deployed, including one veterinarian. The team relieved our Healthy Tails Mobile Clinic staff, in coordination with the Banfield Foundation, who had been caring for pets affected by the Watch Fire since Thursday night when their routine spay/neuter clinic turned into an evacuation center after the fire began.

Our teams cared for 34 pets during the seven days on site, treating burnt paw pads, whiskers, skin and coats as well as providing routine care for pets whose owners lost their homes and possessions. As of today, nine pets were transferred to Gila County Animal Care & Control.

The organization will continue to work with the pets’ owners on reunites. In addition, our team is returning home with eight puppies from the Geronimo Animal Rescue Team and two dogs that were surrendered due to the fire. The remaining pets were successfully reunited with their owners.

The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation is very near and dear to our organization’s heart. We’re deeply saddened to see the devastation the Watch Fire has caused in this community and will continue to help the pets and people as best we can.