Published Jan 12, 2025
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As wildfires rage in Los Angeles County, burning 10,000 structures and displacing hundreds of thousands of California residents, animal welfare workers are working around the clock to house displaced pets and to treat animals injured in the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fire burning near Altadena and Pasadena.
The Pasadena Humane Animal Shelter has taken in more than 400 animals due to evacuations and is also treating pets and wildlife suffering from burns, smoke inhalation, and other injuries. Animals are receiving pain medications, wound care, fluids, and oxygen as needed, and are being monitored in Pasadena Humane’s ICU.
A cat burned in the Eaton Fire was found outside and rushed to the Pasadena Humane animal shelter, where he was treated for burns and smoke exposure. Pasadena Humane / Facebook.com
According to Pasadena Humane’s website, their greatest need is for monetary donations to help provide emergency resources, including emergency medical care, to animals affected by the wildfires. Those wishing to support Pasadena Humane can donate via this link.
Working Together to Save Pets
To make room for more animals at Pasadena Humane and other impacted animal shelters, local humane societies in surrounding areas have stepped in to transfer animals to different locations, freeing up space for displaced and injured pets.
The Best Friends Animal Society, which operates two pet adoption centers in Los Angeles, has an emergency response team on the ground to help support to other local animal welfare organizations.
On January 9, Best Friends transported pets from Pasadena Humane and the Los Angeles Adoption Center to the Best Friends Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, make more space for pets in need. The organization is continuing to work with area shelters to pull pets for transport to unaffected areas.
The Best Friends Animal Society is transporting pets displaced by the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Best Friends Animal Society / Facebook.com
Best Friends put out a plea for help from Los Angeles residents and the community responded, showing up to adopt pets and volunteer to foster. On January 9, Best Friends placed 40 pets into temporary foster homes and adopted 11 pets, moving a total of 51 pets out of the adoption center in one day. To ensure the safety of staff and pets, Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Los Angeles will remain closed to the public until further notice.
Additionally, Best Friends opened two pet pantries in Los Angeles to provide essential supplies including pet food, cat litter, pet beds and human sanitary products for people lost their homes or were forced to evacuate. Both food pantries are open daily from 8am to 6pm, no appointment required.
Best Friends Pet Adoption Center (pet supplies)
1845 Pontius Avenue,
Los Angeles 90025
Best Friends Clinic (pet and human supplies)
17411 Chatsworth St, Suite #100,
Granada Hills, CA 91344
One of Best Friends Animal Society’s pet adoption centers is in West Los Angeles, close to the Palisades Fire. Best Friends Animal Society / Facebook.com
Those wanting to contribute to Best Friends emergency assistance for pets impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles can donate via this link.
San Diego Humane Society transported pets from the Pasadena Humane Society to San Diego, where they are ready for adoption. San Diego Humane Society / Sdhumane.org
The San Diego Humane Society has made multiple trips up to Pasadena Humane Society to bring back dogs and cats to their campuses in San Diego and Escondido. All the pets transported were already available for adoption in Pasadena. They will now be placed up for adoption in San Diego. To view pets that are available for adoption, visit sdhumane.org/adopt. To sign up to be a foster, visit sdhumane.org/foster.
Helen Woodward Animal Center Senior Animal Care Supervisor Jenny Bueche and Companion Hospital Manager CC Camacho. Helen Woodward Animal Center / Animalcenter.org
The Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California, deployed its Rescue RV to the Agora Hills Animal Shelter on January 9. The rescue vehicle was packed with pet food, leashes and collars, water bowls, pet crates, cat litter and litter boxes, plus human food, bottled water, and hygiene supplies to assist Los Angeles County fire victims and their pets.
The rescue RV is scheduled to make multiple trips to shelters in Los Angeles County where the need is most crucial. The Helen Woodward Animal Center has set up a donation drop-off in front of their Adoption building and is seeking pet supplies (food, leashes and collars, pet beds, litter boxes, cat litter, pet toys, crates, and kennels), human supplies (blankets, new or gently used clothes, hygiene products, and baby supplies), and general supplies (paper towels, toilet paper, portable chargers, food and bottled water).
Monetary donations to help pets affected by the Los Angeles wildfires can be made directly to the Los Angeles SPCA (LA SPCA).
