West Ridge Pitches In for the Animals

Understandably, the focus has been on people affected and property lost in last week's tornado. However, many domestic and wild animals were injured or left homeless as well.

This is precisely why the Weld County Animal Response Team (CART) was created a couple years ago; it acts as the Red Cross, only for animals. West Ridge Animal Hospital’s Dr. Colin Combs is the current Veterinary Coordinator of CART.

Last Thursday, many of these professional volunteers sprang into action to help any animals affected by the storm. This is a Weld County Sheriffs Department press release on the CART response to the Windsor tornado:

TIRELESS PROFESSIONALS SAVE HOMELESS ANIMALS
GREELEY, Colo. - Animal control professionals trained specifically for disaster response worked together to save approximately 120 animals who were displaced as a result of the tornado. The Weld County Animal Response Team (CART) was established to respond to disaster or emergency situations in the eleven county northeast region of Colorado. The CART is made up of officers from animal control offices with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, Firestone Police Department, and the Dacono Police Department. In addition the CART team includes professionals from the Humane Society of Weld County, West Ridge Animal Hospital, Alpine Animal Hospital, Vet’s Animal Hospital, and the Eagle Spirit Mobile Clinic. During relief operations the CART team along with Larimer County Animal Control and employees of Code 3 Associates worked together to recover approximately 120 animals. The animals recovered consisted of approximately 68% dogs, 25% cats, and 7% reptiles. The animals were initially taken to a temporary outside shelter where they were logged, any injuries treated, fed, and cared for. Yesterday they were moved to the Humane Society of Weld County where they could be housed inside. The animals will be held free of charge for tornado victims at the humane society in Evans for five days. Anyone looking for their animals can call the Humane Society at 970-506-9550. “We really appreciate the donations from everyone including Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and the United Way”, said Weld County Sheriff’s Office Commander Alan Caldwell. Supplies such as fencing and other hardware donations helped make the operation a success.

Contact:
Deputy Shane Scofield
970-356-4015 x 3909 Office
970-381-7042 Cell
3Hsscofield@co.weld.co.us

For more information about CART visit http://www.weldsheriff.com/CART.html or contact the sheriff’s office animal control unit at 970-304-6500.

In addition, West Ridge is housing several domestic animals that were left homeless, and treated many wild animals as well. Currently staying here at the hospital are the following pets, some displaced from their families:
- a bearded dragon
- two fetal African clawed frogs
- a turtle
- many fish, including three betas, and
- two homeless cockatiels

Here is a sampling of the wildlife that came through West Ridge’s doors:
- a merganser duckling
- two coyote pups
- a hawk
- a cedar waxwing
- a grackle, and
- five pelicans

Merganser duckling

Other than the hawk and the pelicans, all animals were transferred to Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The hawk went CSU, and the pelicans were all treated here. Unfortunately, three of the pelicans suffered “spin wing” and had to be euthanized. One pelican has a non-displaced radial (one of many wing bones) fracture that will heal with cage rest; the other has a displaced humeral (the bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow) fracture requiring orthopedic surgery.