Pets and the Pajaro River Flood: SPCA Monterey County Was There

Pajaro River flood rescue of animals by the SPCA Monterey County. photo: SPCAMC

Around midnight on Friday, March 10, as the tiny community of Pajaro was quiet and sleeping, raging waters in the Pajaro River breached the levee and moved swiftly towards the sleepy town. Residents were awakened by emergency responders pounding on their doors and shouting evacuation orders. Many left with just the clothes on their backs. 

As the morning light came up on Saturday, revealing swirling muddy water as high as four feet in homes and businesses, SPCA Monterey County was there to help. Over the coming weeks, the SPCA sheltered 244 pets evacuated from Pajaro. Our disaster response team also waded through deep water and sticky mud to rescue dozens more animals from flooded areas and reunite them with their loving families. 

The possibility of a levee breach had worried some, but still, when it hit, it was largely unexpected. Some residents were able to evacuate with their pets. Others could grab their dogs, but they couldn’t locate an outdoor cat or catch their chickens in time. Many thought the evacuation would last a day or two as it had in the recent past and they left food and water for their pets, expecting to return soon. But as the days turned into weeks, they needed help. 

Thanks to the support of compassionate donors, SPCA Monterey County was there for them. With the help of high water rescue vehicles from the National Guard and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the SPCA disaster response team rescued pets from the muddy water. As always, our teams helped all types of animals in need: we saved dogs, cats, chickens, pet birds, fish, a rabbit, an iguana, and a chinchilla. 

Pajaro River flood rescue of animals by the SPCA Monterey County. photo: SPCAMC

“We were so desperate, and we were losing hope. The SPCA gave us hope,” said Isabel, whose elderly aunt Linda had been living alone with her two pets, a 15-year-old blind dog named Oscar and an older parrot, when she was evacuated from Pajaro. Fortunately, SPCA rescuers were able to find the two pets, hungry but safe, and immediately reunited them with Linda. 

But the need in the community was far from over. As the evacuation lengthened, SPCA Monterey County provided free pet food and supplies to all local emergency evacuation shelters and to anyone who evacuated. And as the water began to recede, the SPCA cared for pets who were in safe locations but whose owners could not return to them due to evacuation orders. 

To make room for the evacuated pets, the SPCA turned to adopters, fosters, and Marin Humane, which took in six of our large adoptable dogs to find them new homes in Marin County. While all shelters are independent, we share information and help each other whenever possible, especially during disasters.

Now, as the evacuation orders have lifted and people are returning to the devastated community, the SPCA remains here to help. We are providing free pet food and reuniting pets with their families. We are here for our community, thanks to the support of our community. 

SPCA Monterey County is a nonprofit organization. We aren’t a chapter and we don’t have a parent organization. Everything we do for the pets, people, and wildlife who depend on us is only made possible by the support of our donors. We have a seat with the Office of Emergency Services during disasters, and we are a first responder to help the people and pets who need us. All of SPCA Monterey County’s disaster response services are completely free to the community. 

You can help by preparing for a disaster. SPCA Monterey County has preparedness tips for all types of pets available on our website. You can also help support our disaster response by donating and by giving pet food to support those in need. Learn more at spcamc.org. 

When disaster struck the small town of Pajaro, the SPCA Monterey County stood ready to help. Thanks to the support of our community, we’ll be there next time, too.