On the afternoon of July 23rd, only a week after a huge brush fire burned the mountainside of Turre (near the PAWS shelter) another huge bush fire suddenly gushed over the mountains from two different directions, coming straight into the idylic countryside farm of Marguerite Taylor, foster “mother” of PAWS dog “Laurie”.  Driven by high winds the fire was raging fast and visibility was fading .  At the home above, the neighbour was screaming to flee and “get the animals out NOW! ” Fire waits for no man nor beast and everyone had to leave.  The four resident dogs plus “Laurie”  were collared and ready to go; frightened, two of them wouldn`t get into the car.   Luckily “Laurie” and her best buddy “Manet” must have instinctivly known that there was imminent danger and jumped into the back of the car, setting a good example to the rest of the pack. The cat was scooped up into his owner´s arms and in a somewhat undignified manner was thrown onto the back seat of the car. The fire was all around and it was hard to breathe or see; the air was black with flying embers and ash falling all around.  Everything was alight the heat was extreme and intense.   Unable to rescue the horse and pony, Marguerite sobbed as she set them free to run away and hoped that they could escape the fire.  Praying they would be alright, she got in the car with the terrified dogs and cat and sped up the hill, the only exit by road from the farm and their only escape.  Nobody looked back at the inferno which was later to engulf their homes and burn the countryside to a black charcoal mess.

Marguerite and the dogs and cat made it to safety and stayed with friends.  Along with her friend “Manet”, “Laurie” spent two nights sleeping on the bed next to Marguerite, the dogs slumbering deeply together after their terrifying experience.

Now they are all back home, picking up the threads of their lives, and trying to maintain a normal routine.   Heroic Marguerite´s only thought was for the animals.  She hopes they will quickly forget their ordeal and amazes at how resilient animals are.

by Didi Arias