Farmington rafting business rescues 45+ animals after recent flooding

FARMINGTON, N.M. – A Farmington rafting business turned into an emergency lifeline during recent floods, rescuing trapped pets and sheltering more than 45 dogs.

KOB 4 spoke with the co-owner of Desert River Guides about how the business helped families and animals after back-to-back flooding in the Four Corners.

“We’re lucky enough to get any rain. You know, so to have that amount of rain in that period of time was was definitely outstanding,” said Ryan Dudgeon, co-owner of Desert River Guides.

Dudgeon said crews went into neighborhoods with a raft, ready to help if needed. Later that afternoon, people called about animals trapped inside homes.

“We’re able to get the animals,” Dudgeon said. “We hiked over, sucked in quicksand. It was quite treacherous to get there, but we’re able to get the animals out and then up to their owners.”

How did they help?

Dudgeon also opened the company warehouse to house displaced animals before crews evacuated them from the area a second time.

Dudgeon said at one point they had more than 45 dogs in the warehouse, along with a handful of chickens, rabbits, cats and other animals.

“The city came in and helped with a berm and sandbags around our building so that we could get the animals out in time before the water came up to the building,” Dudgeon said. “That berm did protect us, however, from getting wet.”

Dudgeon said the flooding also changed how the company looks at the river.

After assessing new river patterns, Dudgeon said Desert River Guides plans to offer four-day trips on the San Juan River from Shiprock to the Four Corners starting next summer.

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