How to Help Pets Affected by Devastating California Wildfires

September 15, 2015 Laura Goldman

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Please click here for information on how to help pets displaced by the fires burning in Northern and Southern California in November 2018.

Two major wildfires continue to burn in Northern California, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people and their pets.

As of early this morning, the Butte Fire, which is 37 percent contained, has burned 71,660 acres and destroyed 166 homes. About 10,000 people have been evacuated.

Farther north, the Valley Fire, which is only 15 percent contained, has already burned 67,000 acres and destroyed 585 homes. About 13,000 people have been displaced.

Shelters have been made available for all two- and four-legged evacuees. Donations of supplies for both have been pouring in.

“People are really stepping up,” Meagan Delaware, manager of the Paws Inn in Sonora, told the Union Democrat. The boarding facility is overflowing with pets displaced by the Butte Fire. “This community is awesome.”

Animal rescuers in the Valley Fire area had the exact same thing to say about the good Samaritans there.

“Teamwork! Petaluma Animal Services, Wine Country Animal Lovers, Compassion Without Borders and countless individuals and local businesses have demonstrated what it means to care,” the Sonoma Humane Society wrote on its Facebook page yesterday.

“We are so grateful to be a part of this compassionate community, and so thankful that people and their pets have supplies and support during this difficult time. You are not alone.”

Although many shelters currently have all the supplies they need, that may soon change, especially in the Valley Fire area.

Because that wildfire moved so quickly, some pet parents had to evacuate without their pets. Starting today, those pets and other animals will, hopefully, be rescued.

“We are briefing a strike team of expert animal handlers to go into burned-out areas and handle injured, sick, or fearful/hysterical animals — and get them out of there safely,” Petaluma Animal Services wrote on its Facebook page this morning. “We’ve learned overnight that there are dogs and cats everywhere, livestock — horses, too.”

Here are a few ways you can help pets who have been affected by the wildfires.

Donating Pet Supplies and Cash

The good news is that thanks to so many generous donations, most shelters currently have more than enough supplies, but these will eventually need to be replenished.

Cash donations are especially needed.

For information about donating supplies and money, visit these sites (their current needs are indicated below):

Calaveras Humane Society
Petaluma Animal Services — Cash donations
Sonoma Humane Society — Dog and cat toys; crates of all sizes; medium and large dog beds; flea meds
Wine Country Animal Lovers
American Red Cross Disaster Relief — Make a donation to via its website, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Specify that you want it to go to California Wildfires.

Temporary Pet Foster Homes Needed

If you live in the Butte Fire area and can foster a pet whose home was destroyed — or if you’re a fire victim who needs a foster home for your pet, the Friends of the Animal Community (FOAC) Facebook page suggests calling Burson Church at 209-772-9310 for a list of referrals.

In the Valley Fire area, contact the Sonoma Humane Society for information about fostering displaced pets. Foster homes for medium- and large-sized dogs are especially needed.

Some especially sweet news: To make room for a Lake County shelter’s influx of pets during the Valley Fire, volunteer foster parents rescued all the dogs and cats who were scheduled to be euthanized, thus sparing their lives and helping to save fire victims as well. Hooray for these heroes!

Helping Horses

Along with families and their pets, fairgrounds in the Butte Fire and Valley Fire areas are also sheltering displaced horses and livestock.

The following supplies are needed at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds to treat horses injured in the Butte Fire, according to the FOAC Facebook page this morning:

Vet Wrap
A & D Ointment
Bag Balm
Betadine
Gloves
Neosporin
Bandaging

Here are photos of some of the displaced horses staying there.

A shelter has been set up at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga for families, pets and animals displaced by the Valley Fire. For information about helping horses there, check the Lake County Horse Council website.

“There has been an outpouring of donations, but everyone’s needs will be different,” the council wrote on its Facebook page yesterday.