Many animals have been rescued and moved from areas devastated by wildfires in Los Angeles County to locations in California like San Diego and Sacramento.

These recent wildfires, which began on Tuesday, have obliterated whole neighborhoods and shocked the residents as flames have consumed over 10,000 homes, businesses, and structures.

In the midst of the crisis, the San Diego Humane Society and Sacramento SPCA took action to save animals from the Pasadena Humane Society and other nearby shelters that were overwhelmed in their efforts to care for fire-affected animals.

“We were heartbroken to see the devastation in the Greater Los Angeles area and the impact on both people and animals,” said Jordan Frey, a spokesperson for the San Diego Humane Society, during a phone interview with YSL News on Friday. “Once we learned that the Pasadena Humane Society needed help, we immediately sought ways to assist them.”

Frey noted that despite their own shelter being at 125% capacity for dogs, they were determined to assist the animals in need.

Jennifer Brent, CEO of Sacramento SPCA, shared that the organization “quickly reached out to provide our support” after discovering that the Pasadena Humane was looking after “hundreds of displaced animals while also getting ready to potentially evacuate.”

“One effective way we can help from Sacramento is by clearing out shelters in areas closest to the affected locations,” Brent stated. “Supporting our colleagues in Pasadena during this challenging period was a straightforward decision.”

SD Humane rescues 39 dogs

On Thursday, the San Diego Humane Society deployed four teams to rescue 28 dogs and one kitten, adding to the 11 dogs transported to their Oceanside Campus on Wednesday, returning them to their facilities in San Diego and Escondido.

In total, the San Diego Humane Society rescued 39 dogs and one kitten by Friday, according to Frey. He emphasized that evacuating these animals required extensive “coordination and planning” along with proper equipment to ensure a smooth experience. Thankfully, their previous experience with similar emergencies made these evacuations manageable, Frey noted.

The animals that were transported, which were previously eligible for adoption in Pasadena, will now be available for adoption in San Diego, as stated in an announcement by the shelter.

Sacramento SPCA rescues 34 animals

In a similar effort, the Sacramento SPCA announced that they moved 34 animals out of “overcrowded shelters” in Pasadena and other areas in Southern California to their own facility.

“After assisting Sacramento’s Front Street shelter with 17 puppy and adult dog transfers on Wednesday morning, we immediately set out for Pasadena later that day in two transport vehicles,” the organization explained in a recent press release.

On Thursday morning, a dedicated group completed an 800-mile round journey, bringing back to the Sacramento SPCA a total of 9 dogs, some of which had pre-existing health issues, the remaining cat available for adoption, and 7 small animals.

Upon their arrival in Sacramento, the immediate focus was on “making the animals feel comfortable and adjusting them to their new environment,” stated Jamie Larson, the Director of Animal Services at Sacramento SPCA.

Larson also mentioned that the organization would carry out health evaluations on the animals in the upcoming days to assess if they are ready to be adopted.

Ways to Assist

“A fantastic way to provide support right now is by adopting or temporarily fostering a pet, as this can help reduce the burden on shelters,” said Frey. “Many shelters are currently at full capacity, and during emergencies, we accept even more animals.”

Frey confirmed that all dogs rescued by SD Humane are available for adoption and “are not currently under any stray or emergency hold,” expressing the shelter’s eagerness to find them loving homes soon.

Another method to help is by donating money or supplies to Pasadena Humane as they work to assist animals affected by the raging fires in Los Angeles, Frey added. More information on how and what to donate is available on their website.

This article has been revised to correct a typo.