Kev Survived the Wildfire. Now He Needs a Safe Place to Heal.

Pacific Rim Rescue is helping Kev begin again after this three year old, 60 pound Labrador and Rhodesian Ridgeback mix survived a wildfire, the loss of his home, and an old gunshot wound that left a bullet lodged in his shoulder.

Kev was living in White Swan, a community in Washington State on the Yakama Reservation, when the wildfire destroyed his family’s home. During the evacuation, Kev was untied and left behind. After the fire, he returned alone to where his home had once stood.

When rescuers found him, Kev was limping badly and terrified of people. Before bringing him to Pacific Rim Rescue, we arranged for him to receive X-rays to find out what was causing his pain.

That’s when we discovered a bullet lodged in his right shoulder, along with multiple fragments.

Further imaging showed that the bullet had traveled through and shattered part of his upper shoulder before lodging beneath his scapula. Our veterinary team does not recommend removing it at this time. Instead, Kev will need long term pain and nerve medication and an orthopedic consultation to determine the best plan for his future care.

He also arrived with dual ear infections and painfully worn toenails, likely from running across hot pavement during the fire. He is now neutered, vaccinated, treated for parasites, and safely in our care.

But Kev’s physical recovery is only part of his journey.

He is extremely shy and shut down, and life has taught him not to trust people. Sometimes he will allow a gentle scratch on his head. Other times, he runs to hide. We respect his boundaries and are giving him the time he needs to decompress and learn that he is finally safe.

We named him Kev, short for Kevlar, because this boy has already survived so much. ❤️‍🩹

Kev survived the gunshot wound. He survived losing his home. He survived the wildfire. Now he doesn't have to survive on his own.

Your donation will help Pacific Rim Rescue provide the long term medications, veterinary care, orthopedic consultation, rehabilitation, and ongoing support Kev needs and cover the costs of the imaging he received.

We can't change what happened to Kev.

But we can change what happens next.

Please help us give Kev the time, safety, medical care, and patience he needs to finally learn what it feels like to be safe.

If you can't donate, please share his story. Every share helps us reach someone who can.

We've got Kev from here. ❤️