FAMILY SHOULD HAVE MADE ROOM IN THE CAR FOR THEIR DOG

'She was protecting the only house left on the block': Courageous dog abandoned by her family who claim they didn't have room in their car as they fled the Camp Fire is found badly-burned but guarding neighbor's home

Daily Mail
November 18, 2018

A courageous border collie left to fend for herself in the deadly Camp Fire was found protecting the only home still standing on her block in Paradise.

Ella's owners, Mike and Leahna Copsey, and their daughters Clarisa, eight, and Emma, 10, were forced to evacuate their home after the blaze broke out November 8.

The family, whose car was completely full with their belongings, left behind their dog, who was found alive in the neighborhood two days later.

A family friend returned to the area where the badly-burned and frightened pup was found guarding another resident's home.

Leahna Copsey, who was sure Ella didn't make it out of the blaze of alive, explained the relieving phone call she had with a family friend while speaking to the Visalia Times-Delta.

'She was protecting it... she was protecting the only house left on the block,' Copsey said.

Her daughter, Clarisa, also told the outlet: 'She’s a really good dog... so I was really relieved she was alive.'

The Copseys left their Paradise home and traveled to Lake County, roughly two hours away.

The border collie is currently being cared for by the couple's oldest daughter, Kayla, as the family works to rebuild what was lost.

Kayla set up a GoFundMe page to help her family pay for Ella's medical bills.

The crowdfunding page reached $670 of its $650 goal as of Sunday afternoon.

'It’s definitely an odd feeling asking for financial help. And amongst the thousands of others that need help as well; my family and I are there too,' Kayla wrote.

'Like many other animals that have been affected by the Camp Fire, Ella is one of them.

'After going through the fire we are very lucky to have her back with us. And while vet bills have already been discounted for fire victims, it’s still adding up quickly.

'Already spending $250, any little bit helps for the future visits we will be making,' the crowdfunding page states.

The Butte Humane Society also assisted the family by providing food, a crate and toys for Ella.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I would have thrown all my possessions out of the car if that’s what it took to make room for the dog.