Golden-Shepherd Dog on the Run in Arizona as Wildfires Spread
A golden-shepherd dog was rescued from flames in the desert southwest of Tucson, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Monday.
The dog, named “Golden,” was discovered Saturday by a group of firefighters in the Arco Canyon fire in the state of Arizona, according to a news release from the agency.
“We are devastated to learn of the dog’s tragic loss,” the agency said in a statement.
“They were lucky enough to escape the blaze safely and successfully.” “
Golden’s owners were not at the fire and were not able to assist firefighters,” the statement continued.
“They were lucky enough to escape the blaze safely and successfully.”
The fire was reported at 2:40 a.m.
Saturday near Arco Valley, about 20 miles southwest of Phoenix.
The blaze burned about 4,500 acres, officials said.
Firefighters said it was too early to determine how many homes and businesses were damaged or how many people were displaced by the blaze.
“The fire has already consumed many of our communities,” Gov.
Doug Ducey said in an email.
“It’s difficult to comprehend how this can happen.
We have no words.
We can’t imagine the pain and loss for those who lost their homes.”
The state is seeking $3.2 million in federal aid, according the release.
It is unclear how long the dog will be in the wild, the release said.
The release did not give a time frame for when Golden would be released.
“A golden-havanese is a species of dog that’s very well known for its agility, intelligence, and ability to adapt to new situations,” the release stated.
“These qualities make it a good candidate for the new environment, given that Golden was found alone, in an unoccupied structure, in a desert environment, and in a remote area.”
The Golden shepherds are one of several breeds of dog being studied for use in training to become fire fighters, according a statement from the National Wild Dog Foundation.
“For years, we’ve had to choose between the physical and emotional health of the dogs we train,” the foundation said in the statement.
The foundation is working with the U,S.
Department of Agriculture to develop an animal welfare and veterinary-hygiene training plan.
“While the Golden shepard is a very different breed from the standard shepard, we have a long history of working with other breeds of dogs to ensure that we provide the best possible care for them,” the group said.
“Our dogs have shown great promise in helping us to save lives.”
The golden shepherd has been trained for several years by the foundation, which trains the dogs in the use of fire-fighting gear and equipment to help fight wildfires, according of the foundation.
It’s not clear whether the dog was trained in a manner similar to a firefighting dog, such as using a ladder to reach out to rescue people, the foundation stated.