Like millions of people worldwide, I have been shocked to my core by the harrowing sight of the wildfires ravaging Southern California over the last week. The devastation is staggering, the losses are terrible to imagine, and the emotional impact of this catastrophe on its victims is difficult to contemplate. My heart is broken by it all.
Members of our Animal Rescue Team are in close communication with the California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals), and with the state’s Office of Emergency Management and the Los Angeles County Emergency Management Department, participating in daily coordination calls focused on animal-related response. Even in disasters of this magnitude, local jurisdictions are the first to respond, and we understand and support that approach. Our teams can deploy when requested to do so, and these agencies typically prioritize local resources before activating national support.
Staff members of our Pets for Life program in Los Angeles, which works to provide pet care resources to communities in need all year round, have been helping to transport pets with urgent veterinary care needs for those who cannot transport them on their own due to smoke, ash, downed power lines and other factors.
Recognizing the need for a full-time animal focused disaster position in California, we previously made a substantial multi-year grant to CalAnimals. This dedicated position coordinates disaster response between animal welfare and state agencies and streamlines the task of getting animals the urgent help they need when they need it. In the current crisis, this extra capacity has made it possible for CalAnimals to work closely with animal agencies around the state to move animals out of Los Angeles to ensure their safety.
