As Chile fires, a mobile clinic fights to save furry survivors

LIRQUÉN, Chile (AP) — Some are scared, others are dehydrated, most are burned. To provide assistance to beloved friends and other animals affected by the terrible fires in Chile, the Canine Brigade of the National Police and a team of volunteers are working against the clock to provide first aid to pets caught in the flames.

“Our main goal is to help animals that have been rescued, found in the wreckage, in the ashes, or that managed to escape with their owners but were injured because of this massive fire,” Angela Scalpello, a veterinarian with the investigative police canine team, told The Associated Press.

Inside a small van, Scalpello and other veterinarians are treating cats, dogs and other animals in a makeshift clinic. They often arrive with burnt limbs and paws, thirsty or suffering from conjunctivitis – caused by the toxic fumes – after spending days in the rubble of homes, vehicles or schools.

The small town of Lirquen in south-central Chile was ground zero for the devastating fires that had been raging for days. With about 20,000 inhabitants, the fire burned 80% of the city. Nationwide, the fires have killed at least 20 and injured nearly 300, official figures show.

Several Lowa patients treated in the mobile unit were found after the fatal fire.

“We usually find cats that were sheltering in a small corner and that survived both the fire and the days that followed,” said veterinarian Juan Vivanco, who works at the unit.

Although the fire in Lirquen is now under control, the strong smell of fire and fine ash dust still covers its narrow streets. As the city assesses the damage and continues to clear the debris, more animals are expected to be rescued in the coming days, according to Vivanco.

But the longer they wait, the less likely they are to survive. “We’ve also found several pets that have already died … it happens regularly,” he said.

Once they arrive at the mobile unit, pets receive IV fluids, vital signs are checked and their wounds are cared for. The most severe cases are referred to veterinary hospitals.

“We’ve brought in four or five dogs in addition to three kittens. The last kitten we brought in yesterday (Monday) really touched us, because it had all four paws and its tail was burned,” said volunteer Vanessa Morales. “We took it to the emergency center.”

Many residents also visit the mobile clinic to seek help for their pets suffering from stress or injury.

Little dog Chica escaped the blaze thanks to the quick thinking of her family when they evacuated their home last Sunday. Although the house was completely destroyed, the family was unharmed despite minor injuries. However, the senior poodle began to experience some discomfort in his eyes, so his owner Kevin Carrasco decided to seek professional help.

“I saw that her eye was a little sore, there was some discharge, so I sought help, and luckily there was a vet here who let me clean some drops and some drops for her, because she had conjunctivitis,” he said.

Other residents, like Yasna Hidalgo, come to the clinic seeking information in an effort to find lost pets amid the panic and chaos that has spread as the fire begins to reach homes.

“I’m looking for my 85-year-old grandmother’s two dogs. She had to leave in a hurry, and the house was completely destroyed,” she said.

Over the past three days, some 20,000 residents of Lirquen have been the worst affected by the raging Trinitarias fire, which has consumed more than 140 square kilometers (54 sq mi) of the Bio Bio area and is the most destructive of the 30 fires currently burning in the country.

It is considered Chile’s worst emergency in recent years since massive forest fires killed more than 130 people two years ago.

Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate over the weekend, and in the process, many even lost their beloved pets. Some were forced to leave their homes by authorities, as was the case of student Maria Paz, 21.

“Everything burned, we lost everything. All 200 houses in our town burned,” she recalled. “People died, families died, neighbors died, and many animals died, including my little cat.”