SNOHOMISH — A truckload of pet food was set to head east from Snohomish Wednesday to benefit animals affected by the Taylor Bridge Fire near Cle Elum.
The wildfire started Aug. 13 and has destroyed dozens of homes. Many people were forced to leave, and the crews still are battling flames.
There also were hundreds of animals left behind, let loose or found wandering.
A group of people in Snohomish County, including Brenda Roberts, 48, of Marysville, wanted to do something.
She called her friend, Dawn Davis, the animal control and community services officer at the Snohomish Police Department.
Davis went to four Snohomish pet stores: the Snohomish Co-Op, The New Country Pets and Salon, Bridges Pets and Pet Pros.
She asked if they’d be interested in donating and collecting community donations.
“They were very open to it,” she said Tuesday. “They were happy to help.”
The food collected is for dog, cats and livestock.
As an animal control officer, Davis knows pets are part of the family, she said.
“So to leave home in that type of emergency and to leave your animals behind, that has to be just devastating,” she said. “If you put yourselves in the victims’ shoes, you can’t even imagine what they must be going through.”
Davis checked with fire-response organizers and made sure they had room for the food.
Roberts plans to make the delivery Wednesday, Davis said.
“She’s not sure if she’s going to fill her (Ford) F-350 or if she’s going to need to take the horse trailer, too,” Davis said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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