Best Friends mobilizes to save pets from L.A. wildfires

The wildfires burning in Los Angeles this week have killed at least 10 people, forced an estimated 180,000 to evacuate, and destroyed an estimated 10,000 homes — the most damaging natural disaster in the city’s 243-year history.

Numerous fires fueled by intense Santa Ana winds sparked and quickly burned thorough 45 square miles. The largest is the Palisades Fire, which has torched more than 17,000 acres (almost 27 square miles), the size of the island of Manhattan in New York.

Many people — pets in their arms — were forced to flee their homes as the flames spread from high in the hills to densely populated areas all the way to the ocean. Needless to say, animals often are the first to suffer when a disaster like this strikes. And Best Friends has a long history of saving pets’ lives in Los Angeles as well as helping animals in natural disasters. So the team in L.A., with support from all corners of the organization and staff across the country, is diving in to help.

Best Friends has assisted at many natural disasters throughout the years, from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to the recent hurricanes that passed through North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This time around, though, one of our own locations, the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center near Santa Monica, is in the impacted area.

“We’ve been in evacuation mode just in case, and we are prepared to leave if required to do so,” says Elizabeth Oreck, Best Friends senior manager of community engagement in Los Angeles. “We’ve all been tethered to our phones and paying attention to the app that gives us real-time information on the fires. We’re closest to the Palisades Fire, so we’re staying nimble, ready to react based on whatever might happen.”

[Saving dogs and cats caught in Hurricane Helene’s wake]

The Los Angeles staff have been in close contact with animal shelters in the area to offer assistance. On Wednesday, they responded to a request from the city of Pasadena to take in 12 cats and five dogs, freeing up space for more animals coming in from the fires.

On Thursday morning, staff loaded up those 17 animals, plus 16 more from the Best Friends center, into a van and drove them to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, making room for additional animals needing refuge in the coming days. It was the first of several planned trips to get shelter pets out of harm’s way and to free up space for animals who need a place to go due to the fires.

In spite of having to manage their own personal crises from the fires, L.A. residents are showing up in person and calling in to offer help. In the first two days since the fires broke out, the Best Friends team in L.A. has been able to place 62 animals in foster homes, with another 12 adopted.

“The response from the public has been amazing,” says Elizabeth. “Our phones are ringing off the hook, and people have been walking in to offer help. Donations of supplies are coming in. Just this morning, we received a monstrous delivery from our Amazon wish list.”

Plans for the next few days include taking more animals from shelters who might be in harm’s way and being ready to move animals to shelters outside of Los Angeles that can take them in. “We’re also contacting county shelters to see where we can help,” says Elizabeth. “And we’ll continue to put out requests for people to foster or adopt.”

[Best Friends volunteers help in animal shelters]

Best Friends has opened two pet pantries with everyday pet supplies (food, litter, collars, leashes, etc.) located at the center at 1845 Pontius Ave. in Los Angeles and the Best Friends Clinic at 17411 Chatsworth St., Suite #100 in Granada Hills. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Best Friends is also offering a financial incentive for other shelters and animal welfare organizations to help care for animals displaced by the fires. For every dog or cat taken in by organizations to help impacted shelters, Best Friends will contribute $250 to defray the cost of care.

Despite the loss of life and property, people continue to rally together on behalf of the animals. As of Friday morning, Best Friends has received more than 500 emails from individuals volunteering to foster pets.

“It’s so inspiring to see that such challenging times bring out the best in people,” says Elizabeth. “Some people calling in are regulars, but many are first-timers calling in to say they’ve never fostered an animal before but would love to help. We’re happy to have them.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.