When a tremendous cloud of dense, black smoke from the central plume of the nearby station fire in Los Angeles settled atop the Daphneyland Basset Hound rescue in Acton, California, owner and operator Dawn Smith was presented quite suddenly with a very large, very dirty, and very smelly problem: how to balance the daily needs of the ranch, make preparations for a possible emergency evacuation, and somehow still find time to launder the smoky, ash-covered bedding of over 100 frightened hounds!

Daphneyland is a spacious ranch located in Acton east of Agua Dolce, a mere seven miles north of the wildfire currently burning out of control throughout the Angeles National Forest. The ranch provides emergency boarding, as well as rescue services for abandoned animals, and adoption programs aimed at finding them forever homes. In addition to the wide open space which allows for plenty of outdoor exercise, the environment is perfect for the natural socialization of these friendly pooches. The management at the ranch has big plans for its future, and with danger looming so large on the horizon, Dawn was driven to find a way to get the word out to people in the area who might be willing to lend a hand.

After listening to an interview with Dawn on National Public Radio's local Southern California station KPCC, and having already worked with her on a segment for Cesar's Mastering Leadership DVD Your New Dog: First Day and Beyond, volunteers for the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation contacted Daphneyland directly and offered to take time out to help. Representatives from the Foundation drove out to the ranch to meet with Dawn, pick up several days' worth of soiled bedding and linens, and drive it all to a local Laundromat to have it cleaned in what amounted to two full trips and over 45 loads in industrial-sized commercial washers! When the Herculean task was finished, the weary volunteers were treated to a private tour of the facility culminating in a very friendly (and exceedingly slobbery) thank you and farewell from the rescue's resident hounds.

But is this the end of the story? Hardly! Daphneyland remains in harm's way as the fire makes its way inexorably outward from the center of the Angeles National Forest, and they will need all the help that they can get to set things back on track once the threat has passed. Eye cleansings for the Bassets, bathing to get the smoke and ash out of their fur, and what is sure to be many more loads of smoky laundry will require a continued volunteer effort, whether the ranch is evacuated or remains local.

Good Samaritans looking to offer their time should contact the ranch through their website to make their intentions known.

Check back on Tuesday to see more photos of Laundry Day and the Basset Hounds at Daphneyland!