Several dogs got trapped by lava on the Spanish island of La Palma. They can’t escape, and humans can’t fly there to rescue them because the air is too hot.
When they heard about the dogs being stuck in the mountainous area of Todoque, two local companies started using drones to locate and feed the dogs, the Island Council of La Palma said in a statement on Tuesday.
They have been feeding the dogs for a week now. It’s not exactly known how long the animals had been trapped without food and water, but on footage provided by the council, the dogs look very skinny.
The council told Reuters helicopters cannot fly in the area due to the hot air coming from the lava and volcanic ash that can damage the rotors, so the dogs cannot be airlifted for the moment.
The companies will feed them for as long a necessary, the council said. They get help from veterinarians who decide the best portions and type of food for the skinny dogs.
Elsewhere in La Palma, humans set up a makeshift animal shelter in a school playground to rehouse hundreds of pets made homeless when their owners fled the volcano.
The Cumbre Vieja volcano began erupting on September 19 on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.
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