Photo: Butte County Sheriff's Office
A search-and-rescue worker is being praised for helping rescue five dogs that were left behind when residents near Campbellville, California, were ordered to evacuate due to the massive Park Fire.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office said that one of the evacuee's truck broke down on Wednesday (July 24), forcing them to leave it behind, along with their two adult Rottweilers and their four puppies. While the owner provided officials with the location of their truck, it was inaccessible due to the conditions.
Three days later, Trevor Skaggs, with the Butte County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue Team, was flown into the area by helicopter and landed as close to the disabled truck as possible. Skaggs then ran 1.5 miles on foot and found the puppies and their mother alive. Unfortunately, the puppies' father did not survive.
Skaggs gave water and some of his protein bar to the puppies and their mother and then hiked back to the helicopter with the five dogs. They were airlifted to Chico Airport and are being cared for by the North Valley Animal Disaster Group. Officials said the dogs will be transferred to a shelter until they can be reunited with their owner.