Los Angeles animal shelters begging for help, fosters amid wildfires
Several wildfires are continuing to rapidly spread across Los Angeles County, not only displacing thousands of people as well as the pets and wildlife that also call Southern California home.
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control and Los Angeles Animal Services are both urging the public to foster if they can. The Los Angeles Animal Services said its six shelters are “extremely full,” sheltering 1,500 animals while LA County Animal Control Manager Christopher Valles said all seven of its care centers are near capacity.
The Pasadena Humane shelter continues to provide emergency medical care to wild animals that have been left orphaned by the Eaton Fire, which has spread at least 13,500 acres across the Altadena/Pasadena area. Many of the animals suffering from smoke inhalation are being treated with oxygen, fluids and more extensive medical care.
The shelter posted an image of a white dog named Roxy completely coated in ash that was found in a collapsed home. Roxy is currently staying at the shelter’s ICU to be treated for severe burns on her body, face and the ulcers in her eyes as well as her extremely inflamed gums.
Many animals remain unaccounted for, like Altadena resident Dana Schlossberg’s kitten Hoku. Schlossberg wrote on Facebook she was unable to remove Hoku from under her bed when she had to quickly evacuate her home, which was completely destroyed.
“I’m just hoping that he somehow made it. He has a microchip. I’m praying he is ok,” Schlossberg wrote.
How to foster animals amid Los Angeles fires
Both Los Angeles Animal Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control are urging the public to foster animals if they can. This is the best way to help alleviate capacity at shelters without adopting a new pet amid the devastating wildfires, the groups said.
Locals can also foster pets at the Pasadena Humane shelter by filling out their online form.
Where to donate to help animals
Here are some of the organizations supporting animals during the ongoing Southern California wildfires.
Los Angeles County shelters taking animals
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation has five shelters for large animals and seven for small animals amid the ongoing Southern California wildfires.
For large animals:
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536)
- Industry Hills Expo (16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744)
- Horses only: Pomona Fairplex (1101 W Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768)
- At capacity: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave Woodland Hills, CA 91367)
- At capacity: Hansen Dam Horse Park (11127 Orcas Ave, Hansen Dam, CA 91342)
For small animals:
- Agoura Animal Care Center (29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301)
- Baldwin Park Animal Care Center (4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706)
- Carson Animal Care Center (216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248)
- Downey Animal Care Center (11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242)
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536)
- Palmdale Animal Care Center (38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550)
- American Red Cross Sheltering Site at El Camino High School (5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367)
LA Animal Services has a total of six shelters, listed below:
- East Valley (14409 Vanowen St, Van Nuys CA 91405)
- Harbor (957 N. Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731)
- Chesterfield Square / South LA (1850 W. 60th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047)
- North Central (3201 Lacy Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031)
- West Valley (20655 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311)
- West Los Angeles (11361 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064)
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