ASH FORK — A northern Arizona couple says a wall of floodwater hit their van near Ash Fork and swept them and their eight dogs off the road, Arizona’s Family reported.
Brian Bailey and Cynthia Johnston told the station they were driving to Prescott on Oct. 21 when the flash flood struck, shoving the van roughly a thousand feet off the road.
Bailey said he carried one dog to shore and went back into the water, but the current pulled him under and carried him about five miles downstream. Johnston was trapped in the van with the other seven dogs. Rescue crews eventually pulled the couple out.
The dogs were later recovered alive and taken to the Yavapai Humane Society. Because one dog bit a rescuer and none were up to date on rabies shots, state law required a 10-day quarantine, the humane society’s Rich McClish said.
The couple said they were told they owed $1,800 to bring the dogs home. McClish said such fees are set by the county Board of Supervisors, but the humane society was able to work with the couple given the circumstances. The couple said the fee was waived Tuesday.
The story comes as more storms are forecast for Arizona heading into Halloween weekend.
Sources: Arizona’s Family. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Sripathroy / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
