California fires: No room for more horses at Del Mar, but still accepting families with pets; VCA offers free boarding in affected areas

Update 2, 5:48 PM Pacific Time: We've just heard from our colleague and friend Liz Palika, who has been reporting to us on the fires from her San Diego area home and dog training facility:

The fire is moving this way and sirens are blasting. We just relocated the animals at our training yard; that location is under voluntary evacuation. As is my house. So I also just relocated the animals under my care. Now I'm packing up my animals and my papers and my computer! I will try to keep in touch.

We're grateful to Liz for keeping us informed throughout the day, and are thoughts are with her and her family and animals as they struggle with this tragedy.



Update: We've heard that Del Mar facilities at the San Diego fair grounds are closed. Not true. Just off the phone (2:30 p.m. PT) with the San Diego fairgrounds staff. They cannot take any more horses -- they're full -- but they are taking displaced families with pets.



And the VCA hospitals are indeed offering free boarding to pets of people displaced by the fires in Southern California. We confirmed with VCA by phone, and then got this from their corporate headquarters:

VCA Animal Hospitals announced today that local Southern California VCA facilities are offering free boarding for companion animals whose families have been evacuated or displaced as a result of the current firestorms. Conveniently located VCA animal hospitals will provide a safe environment for pets that have been affected by the fires through November 5, 2007 on a space available basis.



“As thousands of families are being evacuated to shelters or facing the loss of their homes, VCA hopes to ease their burden by offering free boarding for pets so they can focus on the critical issues with their families and homes,” said Art Antin, Chief Operating Officer of VCA Animal Hospitals.



Boarding assistance for pets is based on space availability at individual VCA Animal Hospitals throughout Southern California.

A full list of VCA facilities with space, and their phone numbers, is under the jump.



Pet owners can call the following VCA facilities that currently have space available:



Alhambra VCA Mission Animal Hospital 626-289-3643

Arroyo Grande VCA South County Animal Hospital 805-489-1361

Bellflower VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital 562-633-8126

Big Bear City VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital 909-866-2021

Burbank VCA Animal Hospital (Burbank) 818-845-7246

Canoga Park VCA Companion Animal Hospital 818-340-1569

Cypress VCA College Park - Ana Brook Animal Hospital 714-827-6861

Encinitas VCA North Coast Animal Hospital 760-632-1072

Glendale VCA Arden Animal Hospital 818-246-2478

Hermosa Beach VCA Coast Animal Hospital 310-372-8881

Hesperia VCA Victor Valley Animal Hospital 760-244-8022

La Mesa VCA Grossmont Animal Hospital 619-697-0082

Laguna Niguel VCA Aliso Viejo Animal Hospital 949-643-0437

Lake Forest VCA Saddleback Animal Hospital 949-586-4250

Lake Forest VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital 949-770-1808

Long Beach VCA Los Altos Animal Hospital 562-421-3749

Los Alamitos VCA Rossmoor-El Dorado Animal Hospital 562-598-8621

Los Angeles VCA Miller-Robertson Animal Hospital 310-657-7050

Los Angeles VCA Petville Animal Hospital 310-313-9118

Mission Viejo VCA Mission Viejo Animal Hospital 949-582-1220

Monrovia VCA Santa Anita Animal Hospital 626-359-3281

Palm Springs VCA Desert Animal Hospital 760-778-9999

Pasadena VCA A Breed Apart Animal Hospital 626-795-4444

Rancho Mirage VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital 760-346-6103

Reseda VCA McClave Animal Hospital 818-881-5102

Ridgecrest VCA Crestwood Animal Hospital 760-446-7616

Rolling Hills Estates VCA Silver Spur Animal Hospital 310-541-3331

San Diego VCA Angel Animal Hospital 619-291-0042

San Diego VCA Hillcrest Animal Hospital 619-299-7387

San Diego VCA Main Street Animal Hospital 619-232-7401

San Diego VCA West Bernardo Animal Hospital 858-485-7570

Santa Fe Springs VCA La Mirada Animal Hospital 562-921-3539

Santa Monica VCA Santa Monica Dog and Cat Hospital 310-453-5459

Santa Monica VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital 310-828-4587

Spring Valley VCA Paradise Valley Animal Hospital 619-475-9770

Temecula VCA El Rancho Animal Hospital 951-296-3898

Torrance VCA Clarmar Animal Hospital 310-371-2474

Torrance VCA Kennel Club Resort & Spa 310-539-2201

Upland VCA Central Animal Hospital 909-981-2855

Venice VCA Marina Animal Hospital 310-306-8707

Victorville VCA Mesa Animal Hospital 760-245-0109

Woodland Hills VCA Parkwood Animal Hospital 818-884-5506

Comments

[Terri]

Regarding above, didn't know e-mail wouldn't appear in text:

californiatgirl@yahoo.com

[Terri]

Located in Moreno Valley. Will take ferrets, birds and exotics. Free, safe, temporary shelter in a safe loving home.



E-mail me with your needs.

[Linda Spaulding]

I can take two or three horses if they get along. Perhaps a cat or dog temporarily to help in the fires. I do not have a horse trailer.

I have fencing 3 rail, and 2 acres in the Victorville area.

Ask for John or Linda

[Trudy Jackson]

Christie,

Please be careful and safe. Wishing you and all the animals the best.

[petlover]

My best wishes for the people and animals in the affected areas. It's good to see people working together to help one another and the animals.



I hope enough people in other areas of the state offer their fenced land and horse trailers to evacuate the large animals. Saving the horses and cattle is going to take the work of individuals, ranch owners, who have the transport vehicles to get the job done.



Are there local equine associations (quarterhorse, paint, etc.) and cattle associations that can step in to organize evacuations of the animals?



...Thoughts are with all of you.

[wolfdogged]

Animal Evacuation Centers:

(Up to date info can be found here: http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter__HarrisWitchcreekFire



The El Cajon Animal Shelter, located at 1275 North Marshall, will be open today to receive domestic pets and small livestock animals for emergency boarding. Donations of cat and dog food (canned), blankets and towels are welcomed for those wishing to help.

Important: Animal Shelters have received literally hundreds of calls in the last few hours from good Samaritans who are offering room, yards, and land for livestock. There is a serious lack of horse trailers to transport these animals. Anyone with an available horse trailer can call the San Diego Animal Support Foundation immediately at 619-847-8755.

The San Diego Humane Society's Animal Rescue Reserve team is currently working with the San Diego County Department of Animal Services to evacuate domestic animals and livestock.

If possible, place your pet in a crate or carrier and bring any necessary supplies including leashes, food, water and medications as supplies at evacuation centers may be limited. More tips can be found online at www.sdhumane.org .

Most Red Cross evacuation centers are accepting pets in carriers.

If you do not have or were unable to pet your pet in a carrier or need pet supplies, bring your pet to one of the following Red Cross evacuation centers:

Qualcomm Stadium ... 9449 Friars Road in Mission Valley

Mira Mesa High School ... 10510 Reagan Road in Mira Mesa

[glock]

Information from Liz passed to Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Southern Region and Western Region, HSUS

[Jennifer J]

thank you for updating and providing this info. I have sent the link as far and wide as I can!

[petlover]

Have the manufacturers of horse/livestock trailers offered their vehicles to help move the horses, cows, etc.?



Have 4 x 4 truck dealerships stepped in to offer the use of their vehicles to pull the horse trailers?



If I had trailers for sale sitting in a lot, I'd use them, new or used, to move the horses and cattle.



I see a wonderful relationship between the horse trailer companies and truck dealerships to help out here...



Maybe even some good free publicity would come their way?

[Lisa]

Will house cats/dogs misplaced or needing housing during this trying time, free of charge. Located in Costa Mesa, CA. Have backyard for dogs and prefer inside cats ok.



messlisa@yahoo.com

[Kathi G.]

It never occurred to me to think about pets of the homeless. Here's an organization that helps feed pets of the homeless.



Feeding Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit member organization that provides pet food and veterinarian care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada.



Members collect pet food and deliver it to food banks and/or soups kitchens which have agreed to distribute the food to the homeless and impoverished. Members and organizations are listed at www.petsofhomeless.org under “Members”. The information is updated daily.



At our main office we coordinate and support members. We accept cash donations; distribute grant applications to veterinarians and other nonprofit organizations that meet your objectives; review and award grants.



Mission Statement:



Through Feeding Pets of the Homeless, we will do our part to help reduce hunger in pets that belong to the homeless and the less fortunate and provide medical care for those pets in communities across the country.



We believe in the healing power of companion pets and of the human/animal bond which is very important to life.



Our actions include the following:



· Promoting to veterinarians and pet related businesses the importance of joining the program



· Speaking out on the issue of pets of homeless and the disadvantaged



· Campaigning to food distributing organizations the importance of distributing pet food to the less fortunate



· Providing grants to licensed veterinarians and other nonprofit organizations that meet our objectives to administer medical care to pets of the homeless.











If you think it's worthwhile, too, maybe you would create a link to their website on your blog. Anyway, here's what the organization is all about:



Feeding Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit member organization that provides pet food and veterinarian care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada.



Members collect pet food and deliver it to food banks and/or soups kitchens which have agreed to distribute the food to the homeless and impoverished. Members and organizations are listed at www.petsofhomeless.org under “Members”. The information is updated daily.



At our main office we coordinate and support members. We accept cash donations; distribute grant applications to veterinarians and other nonprofit organizations that meet your objectives; review and award grants.



Mission Statement:



Through Feeding Pets of the Homeless, we will do our part to help reduce hunger in pets that belong to the homeless and the less fortunate and provide medical care for those pets in communities across the country.



We believe in the healing power of companion pets and of the human/animal bond which is very important to life.



Our actions include the following:



· Promoting to veterinarians and pet related businesses the importance of joining the program



· Speaking out on the issue of pets of homeless and the disadvantaged



· Campaigning to food distributing organizations the importance of distributing pet food to the less fortunate



· Providing grants to licensed veterinarians and other nonprofit organizations that meet our objectives to administer medical care to pets of the homeless.

[Wellington Florida Horse Gal]

Great article! Most people don't even take into consideration that yes people get displaced, etc - but what about their pets! Really awesome that people stepped up and helped out others in need with free boarding!