San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.comFrightened Pets Lost After Lightning Storm

Frightened Pets Lost After Lightning Storm

This week's thunderstorms drove dozens of dogs from their homes in fear of the scary weather. Animal service officers with the Escondido Humane Society were busy all day picking up spooked pets.

Alicia Escalante was overcome with emotion after seeing her French poodle Peluche is safe. It's been a nail-biting 24 hours since she bolted from her Escondido home after being spooked by thunder and lightning storms that ripped through the county.

Animal service officers have been inundated with phone calls from concerned pet owners ever since the wild weather lit up the skies like the Fourth of July.

"They're not used to the loud noises. It's an unexpected noise so when they hear it, their first instinct is usually to try to run," Katie Woolsey said.

One look at the four-legged friends inside the lost animals ward, and you can see they're visibly frightened, shaking and lonely.

Many people have scoured the kennels, but came up empty-handed. But some of the lucky ones include the owners of a three-month-old boxer and a yellow Lab named Misty. Misty's owner Randy Garcia turned to the Humane Society as a last resort after she scaled the fence in their backyard.

 "It's always great to get your animal back," Garcia said.

With dozens of animals still waiting for their owners to claim them, residents like Alicia Escalante are thankful her precious pooch is coming home.

The Escondido Humane Society will only hold dogs like these for five days before putting them up for adoption.