Walker the dog’s burned paws healing nicely from close call with Borel Fire

TEHACHAPI, Calif. (KGET) – There were some tragedies at the Borel Fire. There was a lot of destruction. There were also some happy stories, and one of those stories is named Walker.

As in Walker the wonder dog, a three-year-old Shepherd-cattle dog mix who barely escaped from the raging wildfire that leveled Havilah on July 26 – but not unscathed.

“He had pretty bad burns on all four of his paws,” said Stormy Fralick, a staff tech at Tehachapi Veterinary Hospital, where Walker is recuperating from – no exaggeration – a near death experience.

Walker first made his presence known to Stallion Springs firefighters assigned to the Borel Fire at the last possible moment.

Firefighters were preparing to pull out of the town of Havilah, which was almost fully engulfed in flames, when they spotted an animal coming over a burning hill toward them. At first they thought it was a coyote, because of its white-gray color. Of course, that was ash. When they realized it was a dog they tried to get him to come to them, but the dog backed away. They didn’t have time to chase him, although one firefighter in particular might have liked to.

“They were in a dangerous situation that (meant) they needed to evacuate that area themselves,” Fralick said. “So as they went to the truck to load up he turned around one last time to look to see if Walker had come towards them and Walker had actually run right between his legs and was attempting to get in the truck with him. He recognized that was his shot at getting out of that terrible place, and here we are.”

The fire task force regrouped just over the hill in Walker Basin. Taft-area Battalion Chief Marcus Rodriguez says that’s how – and where –  Walker got his name.

“Engine 318 from Stallion Springs found the dog,” Rodriguez said, “They had him in the back of the engine and he seemed glad to be there, for lack of a better term.”

Kern County Animal Services is searching for the dog’s owner, who they realize might have lost their home in the fire or might have otherwise evacuated. They’ve placed “found dog” notices on social media, but animal services will give the hoped-for reunion some time.

But if, after enough time has passed, no one has stepped forward, they’ll chip Walker, fix him, and adopt him out. The firefighter who first took him in says he’s a candidate for that honor.

As for Walker’s prognosis:

“All of his injuries are well on their way to making a full recovery,” she said.

Disposition-wise, she said, he’s ready to go.

“He is very easy going,” she said. “He got along great with my other dog right from the get-go. There was no tension. He’ll make someone a great companion. He’s so loving, has so much personality.…he’s gonna fit right into a home setting for sure.”

If it were up to Walker himself, he’d already have quite a few options when it comes to a permanent home.

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