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WOLCOTT, Colo. (CBS4) •

A facility that trains service dogs is trying to get back on its feet after a fire Tuesday night.

Ranch Alakrity is a nonprofit organization in Wolcott where service dogs are bred and trained. The ranch could have easily lost two dogs to the fire but somehow they were able to survive.

Firefighters believe an electrical fire started in the kitchen. Nobody was home when the fire broke out, but the building was still saved. If Ranch Alacrity’s owner, Titus Blackwood, doesn’t get some financial help, her dog training program might not be saved.

“They put the fire out. They wanted me to reconstruct what was in this zone,” Blackwood said.

Taking care of the service dogs now could be challenging to Blackwood.

“The kibble was contaminated, every single training tool that we have that has any form of nylon or plastic is ruined and unusable,” Blackwood said.

It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of dog training. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.

She trains the dogs to work with disabled people and then gives them away for free. In fact she doesn’t make any money from working with the dogs at all. With no way to continue to afford training the dogs, she may have to put them up for adoption.

“That one person who gets that lifetime match isn’t going to get that lifetime match. These dogs are just going to be adopted out as family dogs.”

Blackwood is disabled herself. She said she wants to find some way to stay on the ranch with her dogs. She wants to find some kind of trailer to live in on her ranch until the home is repaired.

Additional Resources

Those who would like to help Ranch Alakrity should make a cash donation to:

Attn: Assistance Dogs of CO or Ranch Alacrity Recovery
Alpine Bank
With Alacrity #6319
0069 Edwards Access Road Suite #5
Edwards, CO 81632

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