Sharing is Caring: Marin Humane Brings Relief to LA Shelters

Volunteers and rescues from the recent LA Fires. photos: Marin Humane

I’d only been home a day after visiting family in LA when the unimaginable fires broke out there. Places I’d known well growing up were burning to the ground and people - and their beloved pets - were fleeing the area. It was heartbreaking to watch and, like many of us, I felt powerless.

But working at Marin Humane allowed me to witness things that gave me hope. As an active member of several statewide animal disaster coalitions, Marin Humane was in immediate and daily contact with shelters in LA starting on Day One. It was quickly determined that the most pressing need was to transfer out as many adoptable animals as possible to create space for the pets of evacuees and the many stray animals who would need shelter in Los Angeles.

Marin Humane had the dubious distinction of having to transform its own shelter into an evacuation center for pets displaced by the Tubbs Fire in 2017 so we had some experience with this kind of disaster. I remember all too well people arriving in tears, cradling their beloved pets and entrusting them to our care. As any pet owner will tell you, pets are family. Knowing their pets are safe, especially when they’ve lost so much, can often be the one comfort during the darkest time of their lives.

While human evacuation shelters are generally available during disasters, many don’t accept pets, and people who find temporary homes with friends may not be able to bring their pets either. That’s where animal shelters come in, safely housing pets while their worried owners deal with the aftermath of disaster.

But these organizations can only care for those pets if they have room. After the Tubbs fire, Marin Humane was able to shelter displaced pets for as long as was needed, thanks to the other amazing shelters and rescue groups who took in our adoptable animals, creating critical space.

Key to this practice of creating space at shelters closest to fire areas is having a coordinated, organized system in place ahead of time. This ensures that needs are met quickly, resources are well-spent, and affected areas are given support throughout their recovery process.

To help our Los Angeles counterparts, Marin Humane joined other Bay Area shelters, making the trek south to bring back animals awaiting adoption. A few days later, our staff met two small planes at area airports with some very precious cargo aboard - even more animals.

Marin Humane then sent a small team of staff to help at Pasadena Humane, enabling their overwhelmed staff to find some respite. Our team cared for the many animals flooding into their shelter. But just as important, we provided support to Pasadena’s hardworking staff and volunteers, whether it was staffing phone lines or preparing meals to keep everyone going.

One bright spot in the wake of the Los Angeles fires was seeing how many people here in the Bay Area wanted to help - and continue to do so. If you’re wondering how you can be part of this effort, here are three important ways you can help, whether it’s through Marin Humane or any one of our great Bay Area Shelters.

Foster an Animal

Marin Humane and other shelters are always in need of foster homes, especially for big dogs, shy kitties, and rabbits. When our new guests arrive, a calm, quiet home is the best setting for them. And the more animals in foster homes, the more room at our shelter. Please consider signing up to become a foster at marinhumane.org/foster.

Adopt

The more animals who find forever homes, the more room we have for new animals arriving - so now is an especially great time to adopt. View our wonderful adoptable animals at marinhumane.org/adopt.

Donate

If you can’t take on another animal and still want to help, the best way is to donate money directly to established animal shelters in Los Angeles. While well-intentioned, sending items like pet food or supplies can create much more work for these organizations, as items must be sorted, distributed, or discarded, eating up valuable time and resources. It’s much more useful to donate money directly so they can use those donations in the most effective way possible. You may also donate to Marin Humane’s own disaster response fund at marinhumane.org/emergency-response.

Finally - and we can’t say this enough - please ensure your own disaster plans are updated and in place, including plans for your pets. To learn more about pet disaster preparedness, visit marinhumane.org/disaster-preparedness.

And stay safe out there.