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Disasters reveal the true character of a community, and the 2023 and 2024 California wildfires were no exception. Beyond the immediate human tragedy, the events placed immense strain on animal welfare organizations, highlighting both the challenges and the remarkable capacity for collaboration within the system.
The Wildfires and the Animal Welfare Crisis
In late 2023 and throughout 2024,wildfires,including the Eaton and Palisades fires,ravaged parts of California. These events created a surge in demand for animal sheltering, fostering, and veterinary care. Existing shelters,already operating at or near capacity,faced an unprecedented crisis. The need to protect animals already in their care while concurrently accommodating those displaced by the fires required immediate and innovative solutions.
Breaking Down Silos: A Collaborative Response
Traditionally, animal welfare organizations often operate independently, each focusing on its specific area of expertise. However, during the wildfires, these boundaries dissolved. Organizations recognized the need for a unified response, pooling resources and expertise to maximize impact. This shift wasn’t about changing established protocols, but rather about prioritizing urgency and removing bureaucratic hurdles.
Addressing the Immediate Need: Space and Resources
The most pressing issue was a lack of space in shelters. To create capacity for displaced animals,organizations focused on three key strategies:
- Increasing Foster Placements: A rapid expansion of foster programs was crucial.
- Accelerating Adoptions: Efforts were made to quickly find permanent homes for adoptable animals.
- Inter-Shelter Transfers: Animals were moved out of the affected regions to shelters with available space.
The response from the public was overwhelming. Animal care centers were inundated with applications from individuals eager to foster or adopt. Best friends Pet Adoption Center,for example,received over 350 applications while smoke filled the air.
Large-Scale Animal Relocation Efforts
Best Friends animal Society, in collaboration with local organizations and national partners, spearheaded the relocation of over 1,700 adoptable animals to safety. This involved both ground transportation and airlifts. Wings of Rescue, along with partners like the Philadelphia Eagles, transported over 300 animals to locations including Salt Lake City, New York, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, utah, and other partner organizations across the country. Best Friends Animal society continues to be a leading institution in animal welfare and rescue.
Pasadena Humane also played a critical role, taking in animals from evacuation zones, providing medical care for burn and smoke injuries, and transferring approximately 500 cats and dogs to partner organizations in 2024, a important increase from around 200 transfers in 2023. Pasadena Humane reported 18 of these transfers occurred in January 2024 alone.
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