As Garth and Linda Carman were leaving their Hay River home due to an encroaching wildfire last month, they were faced with a hairy animal welfare issue: what to do with almost a dozen cats.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was all kinds of haphazard,SA国际影视传媒� said Garth. SA国际影视传媒淲e werenSA国际影视传媒檛 in any way prepared to move them.SA国际影视传媒�

When the wildfire on the KSA国际影视传媒檃tlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation forced the evacuation of around 3,500 people in May from both the reserve and the town of Hay River, the Carmans stepped up to help by transforming their garage into an emergency shelter for felines belonging to people forced to leave their homes.

SA国际影视传媒淓verybody tried to help out,SA国际影视传媒� said Garth. SA国际影视传媒淓verybodySA国际影视传媒檚 good at something SA国际影视传媒� ISA国际影视传媒檓 just good at cats.SA国际影视传媒�

With the community under an evacuation order, the couple went door-to-door rescuing stranded pets. Between their efforts and SA国际影视传媒榦ther people calling and dropping off cats as wellSA国际影视传媒�, they rescued a total of 11 felines, said Garth.

As the wildfire continued to grow in size, they made the executive decision to relocate the shelter to their future son-in-lawSA国际影视传媒檚 residence near the Hay River Golf Course, which was several kilometres away.

SA国际影视传媒淲e ended up having to move everything out to his place,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was really last-minute because we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect to have to evacuate.SA国际影视传媒�

Thinking outside the box, the couple got to work improvising cat carriers.

SA国际影视传媒淲e ended up putting cats and all kinds of different containers,SA国际影视传媒� said Garth. SA国际影视传媒淲e ended up stuffing some of them in Tupperware containers, footstools, laundry baskets, Ottomans, everything duct taped shut.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were really scrambling trying to find room for them but we had it all under control,SA国际影视传媒� he continued.

As they were leaving for the new location, the couple received an unexpected call from a desperate pet owner who had left five cats in a Hay River residence.

SA国际影视传媒淪he had us get into her house and we grabbed them up and rescued them,SA国际影视传媒� said Garth.

In their determined efforts to help the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 kitties, the couple turned the new location into a makeshift shelter for cats with blankets, toys, and food for hungry felines.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome of them were actually pretty cool cats,SA国际影视传媒� said Garth about the litter, which included a semi-feral Norwegian Forest feline named Smokey who was SA国际影视传媒榓 real characterSA国际影视传媒�.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really enjoyed having him but he was not a tame cat any stretch of imagination,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The Carmans eventually evacuated to Yellowknife, leaving the pets in the care of their future son-in-law and other volunteers.

The whole operation has since closed down and all of the four-legged evacuees have been reunited with their owners, Garth said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had a lot of people dropping off food and supplies,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淚t wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 just us. There are many people that help out as best they can.SA国际影视传媒�

The Carmans, who first volunteered as animal rescuers after last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 historic flood, recommenced their efforts to do the same again this year.

He said the service takes a lot of stress off the people who have these cats, especially when you have to leave very quickly like that.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd I donSA国际影视传媒檛 mind looking after them,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ther than the hassle of having to pick them up when youSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to evacuate, itSA国际影视传媒檚 actually quite enjoyable. And if we go through this again next year, ISA国际影视传媒檒l still be here helping cats.SA国际影视传媒�