| It has truly been a week full of anxiety here at | | | | his short walks. |
| home, living through what has come to be known as | | | | Unfortunately, Westin was sold out for Tuesday |
| San Diego Fire Storm 2007. Though we were among | | | | night 10/23/07. There were many people coming |
| the fortunate to discover our home had been | | | | from San Diego to get away from the choking air. |
| spared, night after night of following the dramatic | | | | They recommended that we try to stay at the Las |
| news footage has really made me rethink the special | | | | Palmas Resort which is another pet-friendly place, so |
| place our pets and animals play in our lives. As | | | | we called and booked a night there. Unfortunately, |
| heart-breaking as it was to watch so many homes | | | | we found Las Palmas to be roach friendly as well. |
| lost to the fury of wildfires in Southern California, it | | | | We found a large cockroach in the middle of the |
| was even harder when I realized that many animals | | | | room when we woke up the next morning. |
| and pets were left behind during the evacuation | | | | Fortunately we found it before Sugar! It was difficult |
| process. My dog Sugar, a Bichon Frise who turned | | | | to walk Sugar around the resort as grass at both the |
| one year old earlier this month, was stressing out the | | | | front and back of our room were dead with major |
| moment he smelled smoke in the air. We knew we | | | | renovation. We discovered that they started work at |
| could not stay long. | | | | 7am with construction sounds waking us and Sugar |
| We live in Carmel Valley in San Diego. Starting late | | | | up. This was disconcerting as they never notified us |
| Sunday afternoon, 10/21/07, I noticed the smell of | | | | that this would be happening when we checked in... |
| smoke coming from outside. Soon, the sky started | | | | After 2 nights at Palm Springs, we were ready to |
| getting dark and we realized that it must be a nearby | | | | come home. |
| fire. Sugar did not to want to go outside and began | | | | Sugar was really happy to be home yet with |
| following us very closely, a behavior we know fondly | | | | hesitation to go outside due to poor air quality. We |
| as the Sugar Shadow. By Monday morning we | | | | have since watched more TV coverage relating to |
| watched the news tell us that the fire had gotten | | | | San Diego Fire Storm 2007 and saw news about |
| much worse over the long night and that our area | | | | animals or lost pets. Our hearts go to all fellow pet |
| was being evacuated. With my asthma being a very | | | | owners and pets. We urge people to donate to the |
| serious concern, we decided to get out of town | | | | San Diego Humane Society's Fire Storm 2007 to help |
| where the air quality was not affected by the fires. | | | | with animal rescues and reuniting pets with their |
| We found a pet-friendly room at the Westin Mission | | | | owners. While watching our own little guy, Sugar, deal |
| Hills Resort and Spa on 10/22/07 in Palm Springs area. | | | | with all the smoke, moving around and disruption to |
| This was Sugar's first hotel stay. Despite how lush | | | | his life, we truly empathized with the struggles of the |
| and beautiful the hotel was, Sugar remained alert and | | | | countless pets and animals and how they must have |
| woke up with every noise. When housekeeping was | | | | fared through this ordeal. |
| cleaning the room next to us, our normally calm little | | | | We love our Sugar and would love to extend that |
| cotton ball wanted to bark. The poor little guy was | | | | love to all fellow pet lovers!!! |
| not able to eat regularly or take care of business on | | | | |