Butte County Search and Rescue’s Trevor Skaggs stands in front of the helicopter he used to save a family of Rottweilers during the Park Fire. Photo courtesy of Butte County Search and Rescue

BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - On the night of July 24, as people were frantically evacuating in a remote area above Cohasset, near Campbellville, a resident’s truck became disabled.

Unfortunately, the resident had to leave the truck behind, which included two adult Rottweilers and their puppies. The owner provided responders with the truck’s location but the area was not immediately accessible, due to the fire.

Trevor Skaggs, a Butte County Sheriff Office Search and Rescue member, flew to the area in a Sheriff Office helicopter.

After arriving, Skaggs ran 1.5 miles to the location and found the puppies and mother alive but tired and very thirsty. Unfortunately, the puppies’ father was found to have not survived.

After giving the mother and her puppies water and bites from his protein bar, Skaggs was able to get the five of them to follow him 1.5 miles back to the helicopter. The puppies and their mother were then flown to the Chico Airport and are now being cared for by North Valley Animal Disaster Group members.

It has been a horrific few days for our community and we are grateful to be able to share this amazing story.