Five displaced dogs find homes

Eight homeless hounds are no longer living in a broken-down Toyota Corolla.

Five of the dogs were adopted early Saturday, after a story about them appeared on the front page of The Spokesman-Review. The remaining three were taken to the SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. shelter, which will keep them temporarily.

“We got rid of quite a few dogs today,” said one of the owners, Carl Hair.

He and his wife, Trisha Hair, said a number of concerned residents contacted them after reading about the dogs, who had been living in the sedan for nearly a week. Some offered to adopt dogs, while others wanted to donate food.

“We are glad the dogs are getting warm homes and a safe place,” Trisha Hair said.

The Hairs said getting rid of their “children” was heartbreaking. But, they said, they had no other options after losing their Stevens County home in a Nov. 27 fire.

“It’s just something we had to do,” Carl Hair said. “I believe it’s in their best interest.”

After five dogs of various breeds and sizes were adopted, SpokAnimal picked up the remaining three dogs, one of whom is a registered companion animal to Carl, on Saturday evening. The Hairs, who want to keep their remaining dogs, said the agency will keep them until Monday morning. It’s unclear what will happen after that.

The Hairs said they are grateful for the community’s help.

“Some good has come out of this,” Trisha said.

The couple are working on getting a vehicle and money to get to South Dakota, where they say they’ve found an inexpensive house to buy.

In the meantime, they’re working with the Red Cross to find shelter in Spokane. But they fear whatever accommodations are made for them won’t welcome their remaining dogs.

The Hairs had 11 dogs when their home burned, but found homes for three of them before coming to Spokane.

“My dogs are safe,” Trisha said. “That’s the main concern right now.”