Australian Sled Dog Owner Refuses to Leave Huskies in Bushfire Evacuation: ‘As Long as I’m Here, They’re OK’

Getty Images | SAEED KHAN

A pack of rescued Siberian huskies were left stranded after bushfires engulfed Australia’s Victoria fire zone. Their owner refused to leave his dogs behind as many members of the town were airlifted in a military evacuation. Now he’s being hailed as a hero.

Sled dog tour operator Brett Hadden, his partner Neisha Gschwend, and their huskies fled their Mount Buller property on Jan. 5, 2020. They ended up seeking shelter at showgrounds in Omeo, Victoria. Chinook helicopters were conducting an airlift evacuation to safer ground but were only able to transport people, not animals.

“I would love to evacuate, but I’ve got too many animals,” Hadden told 7 News. “They know what’s going on, but as long as I’m here, they’re okay.”

Hadden’s company, Sleddog Tours, has operated since 2005, and the dog owner’s dedication to his pack is strong. As such, Hadden took to sleeping in a tent on the Omeo showgrounds while his dogs were tied to a fence nearby for safety.

While describing the ordeal to ABC as “very stressful,” the sled tour operator was nonetheless hailed as a hero on social media for displaying such unwavering dedication to his dogs.

Hadden posted a picture of the tent he erected in order to sleep near his pack on Facebook, and many people commented. Some offered help and safe ground for the huskies, and others offered their praise.

“Read your story in [international] news,” wrote one social media user. “[S]o much respect for your courage and commitment to your dogs. God bless and keep all of you safe.”

Firefighters put out spot fires in the Australian town of Sarsfield, Victoria, on Jan. 4, 2020. ©Getty Images | Darrian Traynor

“[Y]our resilience is amazing and at every opportunity I talk about this unimaginable devastation,” wrote another. “[H]ere’s hoping the rain lingers and you get some respite.”

“You are definitely one of Australia’s colourful characters,” added one more. “It must have been stressful. I wouldn’t have left the dogs and horses either, it would have been too sad.”

On Jan. 6, Hadden was briefly able to return to his home, which had escaped the flames. “The flames came up the mountain ridge and went right around it,” Hadden explained to 7 News.

Before leaving Omeo to check on his home, Hadden posted an update on Facebook: “I will drive back to our farm and see if it’s safe to bring all huskies and horses back home,” he wrote. “Our lives are saved, but not sure about our home?”

According to 7 News, approximately 300 people chose to remain in the Omeo township as fires threatened to wreak havoc in the vicinity. Chinook helicopters evacuated 50 people to Bairnsdale and then on to Sale, both on the westerly, “safe” side of the Victoria bushfires.

Rainfall on the evening of Jan. 6 provided brief respite, but it wasn’t enough; according to ABC, Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville estimated that it would take 200 millimeters of rainfall to put out the blazes.

“[W]e’ve probably got at least another four to five weeks of this sort of weather,” Andrews continued, “and we’ve got to deal with it.”

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp commented that light rain could, in fact, be more of a hindrance than a help. “In some respects, [the rain is] great,” he said, “sort of a reprieve for people, and it suppresses the fire behavior, but it does make it difficult for people to move around those firegrounds.”

As of Jan. 7, 2020, the bushfires have devastated nearly 1 million hectares of land and over 110 properties. Two people have lost their lives.

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews announced the launch of a Victorian Bushfire Appeal fund on Jan. 5. He voiced hope that the fund would grow from its starting value of $4 million, through public and private donations, as the needs of the community become increasingly transparent.

“A lot of families have obviously lost everything,” he said, as per ABC. “If a house has been burnt down, there’s a whole lot of basic things such as clothing and getting children ready for school.”