BY CHERYL SHUMWAY
North Country This Week

BRASHER — Thirty dogs are alive today, after being rescued from floodwaters early Saturday morning by first responders, including two swift water rescue members in wetsuits.

Russell’s Groom and Board owners Kimberly and Edward Russell were awakened just before midnight to learn their kennel at 90 Leary-Flint Road was flooded .

With the help of fire departments from North Lawrence, Lawrenceville and Hopkinton-Fort Jackson, “Volunteers stood arm-in-arm taking dogs on leashes from the kennel to pick-up trucks on higher ground across the road to our house,” said Kimberly Russell.

“By 1 a.m. every dog was safe and in our garage, basement or breezeway,” she said.

The owners were alerted to the problem after Annie Hallahan tried to reach the kennel to check on her dogs, but was blocked by one area of the road.

Hallahan called Jake Clark, who made it by foot. He discovered two feet of water had flooded the kennel.

Clark started the dog rescue and was quickly joined by dive team members Will Votra, Nate Larowe, and Lawrenceville firefighter Kevin Blaine in helping get the dogs out of the kennel.

After the dogs were safe and the water receded, the Russells and volunteers took out all the kennels, sanitized the bedding and dog dishes, and scrubbed the walls, in case there was bacteria in the water, said Kimberly.

Thirty volunteers, including friends and family, helped with the clean-up, she said.

“All the dogs had a spa day. They were washed and dried by volunteers,” said Kimberly.

“By noon we had all 30 dogs back in squeaky clean kennels with dry bedding,” she said.

Ruined from the floodwater were a $3,000 electric grooming table, as well a washer, refrigerator and grooming supplies.

“Material things mean nothing. Dogs can’t be replaced, but material things can,” Kimberly said.

“Every fire department gives 100% to our community. We are so grateful and will donate to each fire department,’ she said.

“Tri-Town comes together like no other community. It doesn’t matter whether you are from Brasher, Stockholm or Lawrence, everybody helps everybody,” said Kimberly.