Heroic Efforts Save Pets as LA Wildfires Force Evacuations/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles, residents rushed to save pets and livestock from the flames. Dogs, cats, horses, and even pigs were evacuated by determined owners and volunteers, while shelters overflowed with animals. Despite the losses, community efforts highlighted resilience and compassion as Californians stepped up to help.
Animal Rescues Amid LA Wildfires: Quick Looks
- Emergency Evacuations: Families packed cars with pets and livestock, with many relying on shelters for help.
- Overwhelmed Shelters: Pasadena Humane Society took in 250 animals within a day; other shelters transformed spaces into emergency sanctuaries.
- Tragic Losses: Some animals, like horses locked in stalls, suffered injuries or death due to delayed rescues.
- Community Heroes: Volunteers and social media groups coordinated evacuations and found foster homes for displaced pets.
- Stories of Hope: Despite devastation, many animal owners and rescuers expressed gratitude for survival and support.
Heroic Efforts Save Pets as LA Wildfires Force Evacuations
Deep Look
A Race Against Time
As wildfires rapidly engulfed neighborhoods in Los Angeles, residents scrambled to save their pets, livestock, and wildlife companions. Among them was Arianna Buturovic, who runs a rescue shelter for dogs at risk of euthanasia. When fire surrounded her ranch, she packed 15 dogs and two cats into her Prius and flagged down help for nine more dogs and a pig.
“That’s how we evacuated almost 30 animals,” Buturovic said. “It was crazy.”
Despite her efforts, two ponies and semi-feral dogs she cared for were unaccounted for when she returned to find her ranch destroyed.
Overwhelmed Shelters and Makeshift Solutions
Animal shelters across the region quickly filled with displaced pets. The Pasadena Humane Society took in 250 animals on the first day, while Los Angeles County Animal Care cared for dozens of pets, including cats, dogs, pigs, and even reptiles.
Dr. Annie Harvilicz, a veterinarian, converted her former clinic into an emergency shelter, housing 41 animals before finding foster homes for most. Although unprepared for large animals like donkeys, she commended the outpouring of community support, saying, “People of Los Angeles have really stepped up to the plate.”
Heroic Efforts and Heartbreaking Losses
Julia Bagan, a volunteer with the Southern California Equine Emergency Evacuation group, found five horses locked in stalls in Altadena after the fire. By the time she arrived, one horse, a black mare later named Flicka, was severely injured with burns and eye ulcers caused by embers. Despite her injuries, Bagan drove the horse through fire-ravaged areas to an equine hospital.
“She just had no chance, getting left locked in a stall,” Bagan said. The mare’s survival odds remain at 50-50.
Other horse owners, like Meredith McKenzie, evacuated early, understanding the dangers of panicked animals. McKenzie relocated her horse before flames destroyed her barn, losing equipment but saving her beloved companion.
Community Spirit in the Face of Disaster
The wildfires showcased the resilience and compassion of Californians. Social media groups like the Southern California Equine Emergency Evacuation facilitated coordination among volunteers and animal owners.
Suzanne Cassel evacuated her two horses, a donkey named Oscar Nelson, four dogs, and two cats to an emergency shelter. “Nobody likes to be alone when you’re a herd animal,” Cassel said, describing her efforts to comfort her lonely donkey in its stall.
Rebuilding After Loss
For Buturovic and others, the road ahead is uncertain. Her non-profit organization, Philozoia, which rescues animals from high-kill shelters, lost its physical home. Still, she remains determined to continue her mission, even as she contemplates the overwhelming task of rebuilding.
“I don’t know where we’re going to go from here,” Buturovic said, expressing hope that donations will help sustain her efforts.
Despite the chaos and loss, stories of survival and community solidarity offer a beacon of hope in the aftermath of the fires.
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