Hundreds of animals are being cared for by humane groups in Southern California as this week’s fast-moving wildfires continue to displace residents.
“This is clearly not something that will be resolved in a day or a week,” said Ana Bustilloz, director of communications and marketing for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Los Angeles, or spcaLA, a local welfare organization. animal. “We are ready to help.”
From cats and dogs to horses, birds and turtles, several rescue groups are sheltering a menagerie of animals as flames rage across the Los Angeles area. Some pets stay as temporary guests while the humans in their households remain in evacuation centers, hotels or other places that do not allow pets. Other animals are receiving treatment for their injuries.
“We have taken in some animals that were found lost near the fire areas, that came in with burns, singed paws, singed whiskers and dehydration,” said Dia DuVernet, president and CEO of Pasadena Humane, an animal resource center in Pasadena. . “It’s been a huge community effort trying to figure out how we’re going to respond to all of the human and animal needs in our community.”
He said Pasadena Humane has taken in more than 400 animals so far. Among the most seriously injured are those being treated for dehydration and smoke inhalation, some of whom are on oxygen in the center’s veterinary intensive care unit.
The group has not had to turn away anyone looking for a place to keep their pet.
“It’s been cats, dogs, birds, goats,” DuVernet said. “A desperate pony owner walked his pony from the affected area to our shelter, where we cared for him until we could transport him to an equestrian center.”
The Los Angeles wildfires have killed at least 11 people and more than 100,000 remained under evacuation orders as of Friday, according to authorities. Animal welfare groups in the area said the number of pets they have housed has fluctuated throughout the week, but they are concerned it could increase.
“There are going to be a lot more animals displaced because there are a lot more people displaced,” said Christi Metropole, president and CEO of Stray Cat Alliance, a Los Angeles-based cat rescue organization. “This is the calm before the storm.”
Owners have dropped off about 50 pets for temporary housing at spcaLA, Bustiloz said. They include dogs, cats and a 30-year-old parrot named Ducky, who has delighted staff with phrases like: “I’m a pretty little bird!”
When the animals arrive at spcaLA, they are examined by a veterinarian and given blankets, calming toys and treats to make them feel as at home as possible, Bustiloz said.
“As time goes on, I’m sure we’ll find ourselves doing different things. But for now this is what we are doing,” he said. “The comfort that we can provide to someone who is in danger, just knowing that their animals are cared for and safe, will hopefully give them a little respite so they can focus on other things that need to be taken care of.”
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, wildfires and the particles they release can be dangerous to pets, particularly animals with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. The group says pets should be kept indoors as much as possible when smoke is in the air. Advises all pet owners to have on hand an evacuation kit with three to seven days’ worth of pet food, a pet carrier labeled with contact information, a collapsible feeding bowl and water bowl, and other necessities.
Rescue groups that spoke to NBC News are not in evacuation zones, but said they will only take animals outside for short periods this week for their safety.
A little further from Los Angeles, in Burbank, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center also pays close attention to air quality. In the last week, the municipal park and recreation center that normally houses 500 horses received an additional 200 to 300 horses from private homes or other equestrian centers where smoke and fire posed a serious danger, said Jennie Nevin, executive director of development downtown shopping. and communication.
“It goes in and out,” he said of the smoke in the Burbank area. “With the change in winds, we’ve had some pretty bad air quality, and today we’ve seen a little bit of relief.”
The Los Angeles Equestrian Center is also equipped to handle other large animals. Earlier this week she welcomed Oliver, a pet pig estimated to weigh more than 200 pounds, when his Pasadena-based owners struggled to find another place to keep him.
Rescue centers said they were overwhelmed by donations, including bales of hay, blankets and pet food. Pasadena Humane has received so many donated pet supplies that it fears it will run out of space to house more animals in need, DuVernet said, and has begun requesting only monetary donations in the future.
Some owners who were evacuated earlier in the week were cleared to return home and came to pick up their pets, spcaLA’s Bustiloz said. Seeing pets reunited with their families has been the silver lining to an otherwise stressful week.
“It just feels like a small step in the right direction,” Bustiloz said.
