Multiple wildfires are spreading rapidly throughout Los Angeles County, displacing thousands of residents along with their pets and the local wildlife in Southern California.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, alongside Los Angeles Animal Services, is appealing to the community to consider fostering animals. According to Los Angeles Animal Services, their six shelters are “extremely overcrowded,” currently housing 1,500 animals, while LA County Animal Control Manager Christopher Valles noted that all seven of its care centers are nearing full capacity.

The Pasadena Humane shelter is providing emergency medical treatment to wild animals orphaned by the Eaton Fire, which has engulfed over 13,500 acres in the Altadena/Pasadena area. Many affected animals are receiving care for smoke inhalation, which includes oxygen therapy, fluids, and other medical treatments.

The shelter shared a heartbreaking image of Roxy, a white dog found covered in ash within a collapsed home. She is currently receiving treatment in their ICU for severe burns on her body and face, along with ulcers in her eyes and swollen gums.

Many animals are still missing, including a kitten named Hoku, belonging to Altadena resident Dana Schlossberg. Schlossberg mentioned on Facebook that she could not extract Hoku from beneath her bed during the urgent evacuation of her now-destroyed home.

“I’m just hoping he somehow made it. He has a microchip. I’m praying he is okay,” Schlossberg expressed.

How to Foster Animals During the Los Angeles Fires

Los Angeles Animal Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control are calling on the public to consider fostering animals. This is a valuable way to help decrease shelter populations without needing to adopt a pet permanently during this difficult time, they suggest.

If you’re interested, you can also foster pets through the Pasadena Humane shelter by completing their online form.

Where to Donate for Animal Assistance

Here are some organizations currently assisting animals affected by the wildfires in Southern California:

• Emergency Wildfire Relief Fund – Pasadena Humane
• Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation
• Los Angeles Animal Services

Los Angeles County Shelters Accepting Animals

The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation operates five shelters for larger animals and seven for smaller ones as the wildfires continue in Southern California.

For larger animals, the following shelters are available:

• 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 smaller animals, the shelters include:

• 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 operates a total of six shelters, which are 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)