Animal rescue teams have succeeded in saving over 80 cats and dogs impacted by the tragic wildfires in Southern California, transporting them to a no-kill shelter in Utah.

A plane flew 26 dogs and 58 cats to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary located in Kanab, Utah. These animals had been temporarily housed in the overcrowded Los Angeles County Animal Shelter.

The rescue operation, which involved a collaboration between the Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue, aimed to alleviate congestion at full shelters while providing the animals a safe place to heal before they can hopefully be reunited with their owners.

Another flight took additional animals from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Seattle on Sunday, and YSL News is currently seeking details on how many pets were moved and their current locations.

Both missions received funding from the nonprofit Cencora Impact Foundation, as noted by Best Friends.

“In the rush to evacuate from disasters like the Palisades and Eaton fires, pets can often escape or get separated from their owners,” the Best Friends Animal Society stated. “It then becomes the responsibility of first responders and shelter workers to find and care for these lost pets until they can be returned to their owners.”

Many animals relocated to various California shelters

To address the issue of overcrowding, numerous animals have been moved to shelters across California, including the San Diego Humane Society and Sacramento SPCA.

“We were heartbroken to witness the events unfolding in the Greater Los Angeles area and the many people and animals affected,” said Jordan Frey, spokesperson for the San Diego Humane Society, in a statement to YSL News on Friday. “As soon as we learned that the Pasadena Humane Society needed assistance, we jumped at the chance to help.”

Frey mentioned that they decided to take in more dogs even though their shelter was already operating at 125% capacity.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control and Los Angeles Animal Services have both called on the community to consider fostering pets if possible. The Pasadena Humane shelter is providing urgent medical care to lost pets and displaced wildlife, many of whom are suffering from smoke inhalation.

On Sunday, the shelter posted a photo of an injured black cat named Lil Man, whose whiskers had been scorched, leaving him unable to walk due to injured paws. The week before, they shared an image of a white dog named Roxy, completely covered in ash after being discovered in a collapsed structure.

Some pets have found their way back home

Anxious pet owners are utilizing newly formed Facebook groups and platforms like PetReconnect to search for their missing animals. While many continue to hope for reunions, some have happily found their furry friends once again.

Casey Colvin, a Los Angeles resident, got separated from his dog Oreo on January 7 when the Palisades Fire destroyed his home while he was away.

After five agonizing nights apart, Colvin and Oreo experienced an emotional reunion on Sunday, a moment shared on X by NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz.

“Oh honey, you’re alive, you’re alive!” Colvin exclaimed joyfully as he embraced his dog. “Oh, thank you, God!”

While it seems that other pet owners have also reunited with their animals, the total number remains unclear.

Ways to support animal rescue efforts

Here are some organizations that are assisting animals during the ongoing Southern California wildfires:

• Pasadena Humane’s Emergency Wildfire Relief Fund
• Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation
• Los Angeles Animal Services
• Best Friends Animal Society
• San Diego Humane Society
• Sacramento SPCA

Contributing: Saman Shafiq and James Powel