Fire Season

You all know that fire season in California started early this year. Judy Coffman, our Vice President, monitors wildfires and contacts local Incident Command staff for each fire that expands beyond a local brush fire to offer support for animal evacuations – usually animal food or shelter supplies. So far this year we haven’t needed to dispatch either of CFODC’s disaster response trailers, but we have provided animal food for evacuees of the Topanga-Calabasas and Erskine Fires and have provided requested supplies for the Sand and Blue Cut Fires. The Blue Cut Fire, currently active in San Bernardino County, has burned almost 26,000 acres and is 4% contained (by comparison, the Clayton Fire in Lake County has burned 4,000 acres and is 50% contained).

We appreciate all of our members. Some of our members have also made additional donations beyond their basic membership dues. I’d like to single out Contra Costa County Kennel Club, Bulldog Club of Northern California, Irish Terrier Club of Northern California, Ed & Mary-Jean Odron, Schipperke Club of Southern California, Tehachapi Mountain Dog Fanciers, and Valerie J. Vihlen Schluter for their generosity this year (Santa Maria Kennel Club also has a long history of supporting CFODC through additional donations).

The fact is we are going to deplete our Disaster Relief Fund this year. Our policy is to meet the current needs of animals evacuated in disasters; we will not hold back assistance in anticipation of future needs from future fires. Consequently, if you or your club has not joined CFODC, please consider joining and making an additional donation to support our disaster relief activities. If you know of other fanciers and clubs who haven’t joined CFODC, please encourage them to join, too. I wish I had the nerve to ask you for $19.00 a month in exchange for a picture of a pitiful looking dog. We have a much different appeal, donate to help animals and their owners in California and show the public that the fancy cares.

Again, thanks for your support.

Best regards,

Chuck Bridges
President
California Federation of Dog Clubs, Inc.

Déjà Vu Chow Chows
AKC Breeders of Merit
P. O. Box 355
Tracy, CA 95378-0355
(209) 835-6530 - Home
(209) 815-3613 - Mobile

California Federation of Dog Clubs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization