Rescue workers retrieving pets in aftermath of Canadian wildfire

By Liz Hampton
WANDERING RIVER, Alberta, May 7 (Reuters) - Emergency
workers in Alberta are joining a grassroots effort to rescue
pets trapped in homes after a massive wildfire forced their
owners to leave without them.
Kevin Wonitowy, a locksmith for 20 years, said he entered
the city of Fort McMurray on Saturday to pick the locks of homes
with pets, after a request from the local emergency management
team.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which oversees
Fort McMurray, said on its website that it was sending teams to
rescue pets at their owners' request but noted the use of a
locksmith would be a last resort.
Wonitowy said he would be needed for three to four days in
the nearly empty city that previously housed 88,000. He will
open doors for emergency workers who will take the pets to
shelters.
Wood Buffalo has said it is not doing interviews, and calls
to officials went unanswered.
Fort McMurray was evacuated with little warning on Tuesday,
with residents carrying so few possessions that a nearby
community set up a used-clothing station for them.
Access has since been restricted, and many owners who
abandoned their pets longed to reunite with them, calling on
animal shelters and appealing for information online.
Just days after the evacuation, some residents entered the
city after they said they obtained permission from local
authorities.
Bryan Jones said he and a friend rescued 27 dogs and cats on
Thursday.
But local police and officials have said they do not want
non-emergency personnel in the city, warning that there is still
thick smoke and major damage.
Even so, pet lovers have been making grassroots efforts to
help.
Angel Rowe of Leduc, Alberta, south of Edmonton, said he
organized a convoy to head up to Fort McMurray on Friday evening
to support people like Jones. Rowe said the convoy would be
stationed outside Fort McMurray to transport the rescued pets to
animal shelters.
A local non-profit's website showed more than 80 animal
rescue groups had opened their doors to evacuees' pets.
Reunification with owners, however, may not be on the
horizon for every animal. Even people who brought their pets
with them during evacuation ended up unable to take care of
them, said Tammy Dumais, who runs the Guardian Angel Animal
Rescue Society in Edmonton.
Dumais said owners who fled south have handed over at least
11 cats to her organization.