When a Village Becomes an Army

Saving Animals in a Disaster

2020 was already a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year, but wildfire season has just been the icing on the proverbial disaster cake. Last month, when the first lightning storm struck, kicking off so many fires still burning today, all I could think was, “Are you kidding me?”

But as the world around us burns, at Hopalong Animal Rescue we’ve witnessed a response that is balm for our souls. Maybe it will be for yours, too. 

 Hopalong Animal Rescue is the largest, all-foster rescue organization in the Bay Area with over 600 foster homes and more than 500 regular volunteers. From our humble beginnings 28 years ago in Oakland, we’re now a well-oiled machine specializing in fostering dogs and cats from over 13 shelters and adopting them into loving homes. 

With our strong connections to shelters and so many foster homes already in place, it was relatively easy to transition to pandemic operations when COVID-19 hit last spring. But this  well-established network is also the secret behind our quick response during wildfire season, offering emergency support and foster homes to shelter animals and evacuated pets. Over time, we’ve taken what we learned in previous years and applied it to the emergency du jour. Now that wildfires have become an annual occurrence, our well-honed response skills allow us to work efficiently and effectively when disaster threatens.

In normal times, Hopalong’s offices bustle with volunteers. These unsung heroes are the backbone of our organization. They come from all walks of life - teachers, lawyers, hedge fund CFOs, hair stylists, ballet dancers, filmmakers, software engineers, artists - but all are united by a common bond: to help animals in need. These folks scoop poop on their lunch breaks, clean pens on their days off, do laundry, walk dogs, soothe frightened animals when they first arrive, drive them to medical appointments, give baths and run food pick-ups. Meanwhile, our 600 foster homes throughout the Bay Area are standing by to help these animals through a complete metamorphosis to get them ready for adoption. 

But when disaster strikes, as it did with this year’s wildfires, there’s a moment when time almost stands still. Then we  - along with nearly all the shelters and rescue groups in the Bay Area - pivot toward an emergency response. A network lights up, bat-phones ring off the hook, shelter evacuations begin immediately. As the fires advance, animals are scooped up and relocated to safety. Vans, cars, and transport vehicles full of dogs and cats are on the move, with everyone working together to coordinate safe new quarters. Offers of help come pouring in, and within 48 hours, we easily double our number of volunteers and foster homes. 

In the blink of an eye, our village of a thousand turns into an army of two thousand. Everyone wants to contribute somehow. Happy Hound Play & Daycare donates a van and emergency wing, the Oakland Zoo offers its vehicles and runs emergency transport, pet food drop-offs quintuple in size. People show up in incredible ways. It is endearing beyond words.

This year’s wildfires have brought unimaginable tragedy to so many, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by them. As we reflect on the challenges of 2020, it can be easy to let one’s mind start circling the drain. 

But Hopalong and other Bay Area shelters and rescue groups have come together in monumental and powerful ways during this emergency. Our villages have turned into armies, mobilizing to save and protect so many scared and helpless animals. It is incredibly gratifying to witness and to be a part of such kindness. 

So when the news of the world seems like too much to bear, take a moment to ponder the incredible good happening behind the scenes. At Hopalong Animal Rescue, we see it every day.