The cleanup efforts are underway following a catastrophic and ongoing series of wildfires in northern California. Stories are emerging that highlight the heroic efforts individuals undertook to rescue both people and animals from the advancing flames. For example, a woman in Santa Rosa faced the daunting challenge of evacuating her three horses using a two-horse trailer just as the fire approached her home. Her innovative solution? She put the smallest horse in the backseat of her Honda.
As the fire raged less than a mile from her residence last week, Lauren Mesaros realized it was time to evacuate herself, her two mares, and her pony, Stardust. Sadly, the borrowed trailer was only large enough for two horses, leaving Stardust without a spot.
Instead of abandoning Stardust, Mesaros decided to place him in the backseat of her 2001 Honda Accord. With the assistance of her “horse whisperer” friend, who lured Stardust into the midsize car with a carrot, they successfully secured him inside by swiftly closing the door. Fortunately, it wasn’t too challenging, aided by the spacious backseat of the Accord.
“He actually walked right into the car like a dog would,” Mesaros shared with SF Gate.
The trio of horses was transported to a nearby ranch to remain safe from the fire’s threat. Fortunately, Mesaros’s property was protected due to an unexpected shift in the wind. As for her Accord, however, it tells a different story.
“My car will never smell the same again,” Mesaros remarked to SF Gate. “It’s a little funky in the backseat, but [Stardust] survived.”
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