Animal rescuers care for Los Angeles fire evacuees – dogs, donkeys, horses

Volunteers are scrambling to find food, water and shelter while providing treatment for the displaced animals

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Jodi Lakatos unloads the last of her 15 horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center after evacuating Altadena as large animals are evacuated from several wildfires, in Burbank, California. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:08am, 12 Jan 2025Updated: 3:15pm, 12 Jan 2025

The pit bull mix arrived at Pasadena Humane covered in ash, his paw pads ulcerated from walking on fire debris, his lungs choked with smoke. A Good Samaritan found the dog lying in rubble in Altadena, wrapped him in a blanket and brought him to the shelter.

Still too weak to walk Saturday, Canela was reunited with his owner – thanks to CNN’s coverage of the act of kindness. The injured pet continues to receive medical treatment and is one of more than 400 animals that have arrived at the Pasadena facility since the Southern California wildfires began last Tuesday.

Animal facilities, veterinarians and rescue organisations have taken in and assisted dogs, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, and other creatures that were displaced by the ongoing fires along with their human owners.

The Humane Society began accepting animals as a temporary shelter as families evacuated their homes. But circumstances evolved, along with the widening disaster, which has left 13 people dead, burned 39,000 acres (157.83 sq km), and forced at least 153,000 people to leave their homes.

Evacuated residents from the Eaton Fire, carry a kennel with a dog as they seek shelter for it, at the Pasadena Humane Society in Pasadena, California. Photo: Reuters

“We are now seeing more injured animals coming in,” said Dia DuVernet, president and chief executive of Pasadena Humane.