As major wildfires continue to rage through the Los Angeles area, Utah animal rescue groups have stepped up to help some furry friends.
Best Friends Animal Society, the Kanab-based animal welfare group, transported 33 pets from California to their southern Utah sanctuary this week, according to spokesperson Erinn O’Connor. Another 40 pets were set to arrive Saturday, she said.
Best Friends is making room for these L.A. pets by transferring some of their current residents to rescue groups in Utah and Idaho, with plans to find them homes through adoptions or foster programs. Those groups include the Humane Society of Utah, SNARF and the Cache Humane Society.
For O’Connor, the collaboration between shelters and locals has shown that “in times of need, the community steps up.”
“We are receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of emails from local Angelenos who are looking to foster, and that same sort of community spirit is also coming out in Salt Lake City,” O’Connor said. “Even though it’s unprecedented times, we’re taking things as they come.”
Fostering or adopting, if people have the space and commitment, is the “most impactful” and “flexible” way to help, O’Connor said. Fostering, she said, “can be as short or as long as you want to make it.”
“You’re really saving a life,” said O’Connor. “By taking in a pet in need, you are creating a space for another pet to have a safe place to land, where they’ll perceive care and be able to continue their search for a loving home.”
(Best Friends Animal Society) Displaced pets from Los Angeles County are finding refuge at Best Friends Animal Society's facilities in Kanab.
Chase Thompson, director of the home-based program Ohana Rottweiler Rescue, is working with Best Friends to look for foster homes in the Santaquin area. Thompson, alongside business partner Samantha Chincailla, was waiting on the arrival of two pets to his home Friday afternoon. Two other homes, he said, have also signed up to foster.
“This kind of wildfire could happen to us,” Thompson said, noting that Utah has dry conditions similar to those in the L.A. area. “I hope that our neighbors will help out, too.”
Thompson said he believes “anything helps,” and that those interested in fostering or donating materials can email ohanarescueandrehab@gmail.com or send a Facebook message. People can also donate to Best Friends Amazon Wishlist, O’Connor said, where items will go directly to L.A. pet pantries.
On Friday afternoon, the Humane Society of Utah received 20 cat kennels and planned to make room for three litters of puppies Saturday. The arriving animals, the nonprofit’s marketing and communications director Guinnevere Shuster said, are from L.A. and Kanab, and are being moved to make room for the displaced pets.
“By us taking them in, we’re allowing space for the animals that are in immediate need,” said Shuster.
At the Best Friends Animal Shelter in Salt Lake City, the space has been “relatively quiet,” said shelter partnerships manager Caitlin Lisle, thanks to the “huge influx” of people coming in to adopt or foster the newly arrived animals. According to Lisle, 58 cats (most from the Kanab sanctuary) arrived Friday, with about 30 dogs expected for Saturday.
“Our foster team was almost in tears with the overwhelming support we’ve had from the community,” said Lisle. “It’s just really inspirational to see everybody coming together and helping out.”
