Since the beginning of the devastating North Bay fires on Sunday night, families and local institutions have been quick to open their homes and facilities to help evacuees. Unfortunately, not all of these shelters have room for pets, putting added stress on families already reeling from the loss of their houses and belongings.
To help mitigate this problem, animal shelters and clinics across the North Bay are offering free services for those affected by the fires. Marin Humane in Novado is accepting animals for emergency boarding, and the Sonoma Humane Society in Santa Rosa is offering free veterinary treatment for burned animals.
Due to community donations, North Bay shelters have plenty of pet food, supplies, toys, and transportation crates. But what they are running out of is space, according to Jules Shapiro of the East Bay SPCA.
To help ease congestion, the East Bay SPCA is making trips to shelters in the North Bay, picking up animals, and relocating them to the organization’s Oakland and Dublin facilities. The goal is to make room in those shelters for animals displaced by the fires, providing families with pets some much needed relief.
“What we hope to do and like to do is really be a partner for others in a time of crisis,” said Shapiro.
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As of yesterday, the organization brought 31 dogs and cats from shelters in the North Bay to Oakland and Dublin. Today, the organization added to that number, picking up 20 dogs and 26 cats from shelters in Solano County,
“Whenever we can be supportive of the community at large, we’re going to be there, and that’s what we’re doing right now,” said Shapiro.
The SPCA will evaluate the animals for health problems, such as smoke inhalation, and eventually will put them up for adoption. Shapiro said East Bay residents can help the effort by fostering pets waiting to be adopted, as well as donating dog and cat food at both of its locations.
The East Bay SPCA has limited boarding operations for pets affected by the fires as well. If you have been displaced by the fire and are in need of temporary boarding for your pet, call (510) 569-0702 for the Oakland location and (925)-479-9670 for Dublin.
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