Employees of a rafting guide company in Farmington, New Mexico, put their rescue skills to work after devastating floods left animals stranded across the community.
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According to Outside, Desert River Guides typically offers guided rafting trips along the Animas and San Juan rivers. The company belongs to Ryan Dudgeon and her husband, Cody Dudgeon, both longtime local residents.
When devastating floods struck the Four Corners region of the U.S. in late October, Ryan and her fellow guides searched flooded neighborhoods for animals left behind during evacuations.
Establishing an emergency animal shelter in the company warehouse, the crew took to the flooded roadways by boat, rescuing stranded pets and other animals.
Their rescue efforts sometimes extended to people, whom the team helped float out of flooded areas. The Dudgeons saved dozens of pets and livestock. Volunteers contributed however they were able, bringing rafting gear, drysuits, and swiftwater rescue skills to the effort…