Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal Alexsia King, 3, of Dayton plays with the Central Lyon County Fire District's Fire Hazard Simulator during the Lucky Horse Benefit on Saturday afternoon in Dayton. The fundraiser was organized to help the Allens, who run the Lucky Horse Rescue. Their home was damaged by a fire on June 9.
More than 250 friends, neighbors and horse lovers showed up at Our Park in Dayton Saturday to eat spaghetti and help a couple that is usually helping horses.
Bruce and Shirley Allen, who operate the Lucky Horse Rescue Corral, lost most of their home to a fire on June 9. Though no one was injured, human or animal, the couple that often keeps injured or abandoned foals in their bedroom were left in a bad way.
The Lucky Horse Rescue Corral is a program of Least Resistance Training Concepts and is designed to care for and find adoptive homes for wild horses. The Allens have at any given time, between six and 10 horses available for adoption, including a new paint foal named Petey that was abandoned by his herd when he couldn't keep up with them.
Most of the Allens' home was destroyed in the fire, which was believed have been caused by wiring problems. Much of the home will be torn down, and most of the Allens' possessions were lost, including their computers and adoption records.
To rebuild, friends of the couple began planning the benefit even before the fire was out, said Bonnie Matton of the Wild Horse Preservation League. All funds raised will go to the Allens' rebuilding fund.
Central Lyon County firefighters were the guests of honor at the event, which featured a spaghetti dinner catered by the Daytona Casino, raffles, a tack sale, silent auction, and a car show by the Dayton Valley Car Club.
The firefighters took the opportunity to educate kids about fire dangers in the home, and give back to the Allens.
Fire prevention specialist Chuck Ritter said the firefighters came to support the Allens who took animals in during the Linehan fire last year.
"This (fighting fires) is just what we do," he said. "We're here to help support the Allens. They're a great couple, and as much as the Allens have done for the community, it's great to give back to them."
Local musicians provided entertainment and Lyon County Commissioner Larry McPherson served as master of ceremonies.
Shirley Allen was overwhelmed by the turnout.
"There are not greater people on the face of the earth than those in this community," she said, teary-eyed. "We have been taken care of from day one."
She praised the firefighters for their efforts to save her home.
"The fire department here is absolutely Number 1," she said. "They absolutely went out of their way trying to save everything in our home. It didn't burn completely to the ground, and it's because of them that it didn't."
Dixie Miller of Stor-All in Dayton said efforts to help the Allens shouldn't stop with the rebuilding fund.
"We need to do this annually to raise funds to keep this project (Lucky Horse Rescue Corral) going," she said. "They do a very important thing in this community. Let's do this annually and keep it going."
Miller said anyone willing to volunteer to help plan future fundraisers for Lucky Horse should contact her at Stor-All at 775-882-2233 on Monday.
You can help
• Donations can be made to the Allen Fire Rebuild Fund, Account No. 9091959677, at Wells Fargo Bank in the Smith's Shopping Center in person or send checks payable to the account, to Wells Fargo Bank, 6 Pine Cone Road, Ste. 6, Dayton, NV 89403.
• If you have done business with Shirley Allen and Least Resistance Training Concepts, e-mail your name, phone number and address to her at sallen5954@earthlink.net.
• To help plan future fundraisers, call Dixi Miller at Stor-All at (775) 882-2233.
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.