Emails floating around the dog-show lists tell the story of Nancy Punches, whose home is not too far from the Chehalis River, in coastal Washington state. Last Tuesday morning, when the river crested at 75 feet, the 70-something lost nearly everything.
The email account of her ordeal was hard to read:
<<
She has raised, trained and exhibited dogs from the early 1960s, first Doberman Pinschers, then Pulik, Smooth Fox Terriers, American Foxhounds and most recently she had acquired a much loved Black Russian Terrier, Dali. She is also an AKC judge, but is so busy with her work in the lab of the Morton Hospital and with her own dogs that she doesn't accept many assignments. She is however, always ready to help out, she chairs shows and ring stewards, helps build majors [multi-point wins that are required for dogs to finish their championships] and offers advice and comfort and guidance to all.
Nancy spent many hours of the night and into the morning, alternately treading water and clinging to a china hutch as water in her home rose to within ten inches of the ceiling. When the China hutch gave way and fell into the water, Nancy kept her head above water by clinging to a plank. Just before the flood, knowing that bad weather was coming, she brought her most beloved dogs into the house for safekeeping. Dali, the black Russian terrier. The Foxhounds-- Cruise, Whistler, Jack, Priss, Minnie, Precious, Dixie. All champions. All beloved. One by one they each drowned in front of her.
She did manage to save a litter of five week old puppies. She had placed them in a styrofoam cooler and floated them alongside her all through the night. Like Nancy, they survived and were rescued by helicopter late on Tuesday morning. Nancy thinks that one of the Foxhounds in the kennel also rode out the storm, but all the others, more than thirty dogs in all, perished.
Nancy is in Providence Hospital in Chehalis, WA with frostbite to her feet. Her home has been demolished, and everything she has, save four little puppies and maybe one lone foxhound, everything else is gone. She did not have flood insurance, so the loss of her home, her van, her motorhome, her kennel--- none of that is covered. Some philanthropic organizations have been contacted and we are doing our best to find help for Nancy. She will need every dime.>>
On Monday, a crew went to Nancy's home to see what could be salvaged and to bury the dead animals. As one corner of the kennel was being cleaned, a male Foxhound was found mostly buried in the mud, still alive. He had been there for five days and had to be dug out with a shovel. He is under veterinary care, but it is too early for a prognosis.
Donations of goods and cards of support can be sent to Nancy's colleagues at The Morton Hospital:
Nancy Punches
c/o The Morton Hospital
Medical Lab
P.O. Box "C" (or for UPS, 521 Adam St.)
Morton, WA 98352
PayPal donations are being accepted: Make payment to nancypunchesfund@
earthlink.net.
