For families who lost dogs in the Marshall Fire, a Colorado artist is offering free pet pictures.
NORTHGLENN, COLORADO (AP) — The Marshall Fire, which damaged an estimated 991 properties, forced tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes on Thursday. Another layer of a tragedy caused by the fire is the loss of pets by families caught up in the frenzy of the day.
Angela Hacker is a veterinary technician who understands how important pets are to their owners.
"Without my dogs, I'm not sure where I'd be." I'm suffering from severe depression... My pets, especially my cats and dogs, keep me going. They are the reason I get out of bed in the morning. "I became a vet tech because animals have given me so much and I wanted to repay them in some way," Hacker explained.
Hacker is also a painter who specializes in pet portraiture. She felt she had to assist when she witnessed the devastation wrought by the fires in Boulder County.
"If somebody lost a pet in the fire, I would draw a portrait for them," Hacker told Denver7, adding that the portraits would be free of charge.
Hacker shared her concept on Facebook and was astounded by the quantity of favorable feedback she received. She hoped her contribution wouldn't appear insignificant in light of the agony that hundreds of families had gone through.
"It's not going to make anyone come back." That isn't going to solve the problem. But I was hoping that it would just be a sign for them going forward that someone cared and that they weren't coping with this alone," Hacker remarked.
If you'd like a pet portrait from Hacker, email Colette.Bordelon@TheDenverChannel.com and we'll put you in touch.
At this link, you may report lost pets to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. The humane society's lost and found sites are updated on a regular basis, according to those who work for them.
The Humane Society of Boulder Valley also stated that there is presently no need for pet food or supplies. If anybody affected by the fires requires pet food or supplies, they can go to the Boulder Humane Society at 2323 55th Street.
Donating to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley's Emergency Safety Net Fund is the greatest way to support them right now.
There are also Facebook groups like Colorado Missing & Found Pets and Boulder, CO - Lost Dogs, Cats & Pets where users may share images of their lost pets and their last known whereabouts.