Dog community rallies for family at Seattle dog show after crash
Mar 8, 2013, 12:36 PM | Updated: 1:11 pm
"It's amazing that anyone survived the accident, from the looks of the truck," says friend Becky Sumner.
More than 17,000 people are expected to attend the Seattle Kennel Club’s annual dog show this weekend, but there will be a couple of familiar faces missing from the crowd.
Longtime professional dog handlers Pat and Don Rodgers were involved in a serious crash on February 19 as they were on their way home from a dog show in California. Their truck was totaled by a semi near Chehalis, WA.
“It’s amazing that anyone survived the accident, from the looks of the truck,” says friend Becky Sumner.
Pat and Don both survived, but Pat was badly injured. She was airlifted from the crash site to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and is still in serious condition.
The couple’s pet whippet, Steeler, ran from the crash site. He was found 14 hours later by a canine search and rescue team. Steeler had scrapes and bruises, but was otherwise unhurt.
This weekend, the Seattle dog community is coming together for a fundraiser for the Rodgers family. Friends and family are hosting a silent auction at the dog show at Century Link Field.
Items up for bid include gifts baskets for people and pets, artwork, jewelry, services and even a brand new Xbox video game system.
You don’t have to be at the dog show to bid. They have also set up an auction page on Facebook.
