As wildfires spread quickly across Southern California, hundreds of animals, from pets to huge farm animals, have had to leave their homes with their families. Animal rescue groups, humane societies, and emergency shelters have all stepped forward to help with the mounting crisis by taking in animals that need a place to stay, medical care, and a safe place to heal. A lot of people are being evacuated right now, so these things are happening at the same time. A lot of people can’t take care of their dogs or aren’t with them.
Pasadena Humane is one of the most important nonprofits that has already taken in more than 400 animals. They don’t just take in cats and dogs; they also help with harder and less usual instances, like the pony they saved. A lot of these creatures were scared, thirsty, and in bad shape when they got here. People who were burned, breathed in smoke, or were too hot had to get to the hospital right away. Even though they don’t have a lot of space or resources, veterinary teams are working around the clock to take care of each case.
People used to think of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center as a place to train and board horses. Now, though, it is a safe refuge for big animals. There are now between 200 and 300 horses in the facility. A number of them were moved hastily and under a lot of stress. The calamity has damaged a number of animals, even a pig that weights 200 pounds. It has been hard to find food and shelter for so many big animals in such a short amount of time. Many people have gone to the center to help feed, clean, and check on the animals’ health.
Ducky the parrot is another well-known rescue story. He lost his family during the evacuation. Animal responders acted swiftly, so he is safe right now. There are a lot of stories like Ducky’s in this crisis, and every animal that is saved is a small win in the middle of all the mayhem.
A number of people who own pets are now staying in emergency evacuation facilities. They have to leave their pets behind or put them in shelters for a short time while they look for a new place to live or wait to hear what will happen to their homes. These times have been hard for both the dogs and their owners. Animal rescue groups work hard to help animals, give them a home to stay, and get them back to their owners.
People have responded quite well. People in the area have given things like food, boxes, blankets, and first aid kits. But now a lot of groups are asking for money instead because they don’t have enough room or it’s too hard to do. Donations of money help pay for things like prescriptions, vet care, staff overtime, and temporary boarding facilities that are filling up fast.
Things aren’t always horrible, but they aren’t always good either. Humane workers and volunteers have seen pets and their owners get back together in ways that made them feel good after they thought the worst had happened. One of these reunions made volunteers cry when a dog who had been salvaged from a fire zone and treated for smoke exposure was reunited with his owner after being apart for almost a week. These touching scenes show how strong the link is between people and their dogs and how important the work that rescue groups undertake is.
Ana Bustilloz from spcaLA, one of the first groups to help, said that these reunions changed people’s lives in a big way. “It’s a step in the right direction to see families come back together,” she remarked. During the crisis, many people felt this way.
As the fires rage on and evacuation orders change, rescue groups are on high alert and ready for additional animals to come in. Their job gets harder every day because they don’t have adequate resources. But they never cease wanting to aid creatures that can’t help themselves. During one of the area’s worst moments, humane groups in Southern California are helping people by giving them shelter, care, comfort, and hope through community support, volunteerism, and kindness.