More than 30 shelter pets were transferred from Mineral Wells to Fort Worth on Wednesday afternoon as firefighters battle the Ross wildfire, which has burned more than 80,000 acres in Palo Pinto and Jack counties.
The Humane Society of North Texas is assisting the Mineral Wells Animal Shelter by clearing out its current shelter population so it can make room for pets displaced by the fire, according to a news release.
Every pet from the Mineral Wells shelter, including 12 dogs and 26 cats, are being taken in by the Humane Society shelter in Fort Worth, officials said.
The Mineral Wells Animal Shelter has 34 cages for both cats and dogs, and they want to have open spaces to help animals displaced by the fire if needed, Kim Marinaro from the animal shelter said.
Marinaro said they have already recovered two dogs from the Graford area that were found in the fire zone, and they hope that these pets can be reunited with their families once everything clears up.
The Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth has taken in 12 dogs and 26 cats from the Mineral Wells Animal Shelter while firefighters battle the Ross wildfire, which has burned more than 80,000 acres in Palo Pinto and Jack counties. Humane Society of North Texas
Talking about challenges, Marinaro said, the shelter was completely full of owners’ surrendered pets, but they want to ensure they have space for the displaced animals. “We are just trying to be able to make space for everybody,” she said.
“During a natural disaster, it is one of the most important times for communities to come together and for people to help each other out,” Jordan Moody from the Mineral Wells Animal Shelter said. “On a normal time we’re able and willing to take those owner surrenders. Our community could really help us out by holding off and giving us space and time to help the ones who have lost their homes without any choice,”
The Ross Fire, which started west of Fort Worth in Palo Pinto County on Monday, has grown to 80,000 acres and is only 12% contained, Texas A&M Forest Service officials said on Wednesday.
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Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.