As thousands flee the flames in the Napa and Sonoma areas, animal rescue groups are hustling to help pets by clearing shelters and finding them temporary homes, and at least one shelter has found itself among those needing to be evacuated.
The Milo Foundation’s Willits Sanctuary was forced to evacuate, bringing its animals to the Point Richmond shelter. Milo officials are asking for help to foster those pets. If you can foster a dog or cat, go to the Milo Foundation shelter at 220 S. Garrard Blvd., Point Richmond, call 510-900-2275 or go the group’s website.
Humane Society Silicon Valley is taking animals from the Petaluma Animal Shelter. A team from the organization was sent Monday to the shelter to transfer animals, some of which were dogs that had arrived recently from Louisiana as refugees of Hurricane Harvey.
The humane society planned to place large dogs in holding rooms and send the smaller ones to foster homes.
Oakland-based Pet Food Express is collecting donations at its stores for the fire victims and their animals in Napa and Sonoma counties. The company is working with Napa Humane, Sonoma Animal Care and Control and Marin Humane, to make sure the groups have what they need.
Benji is one of the furry evacuees staying at the @MarinGov shelter set up for #NapaFires #SonomaFire. Small pets & owners welcome! pic.twitter.com/0WHsS48wP2
— Marin County (@maringov) October 10, 2017
Two deliveries were sent Monday from Oakland to Sonoma ACC and Marin Humane, and included food, litter and water and food bowls. The company has pledged to continue to provide supplies throughout the emergency.
Shelters for animals
- Napa County Animal Shelter, 942 Hartle Court, Napa, will shelter dogs, cats, rabbits and other household animals. It also is looking for volunteers who can foster some pets as the shelter fills up.
- Pets Lifeline Animal Shelter, 19686 Eighth St. East, Sonoma, 707-996-4577, is taking small pets.
- Marin Humane is offering emergency board for animals already evacuated to Marin. Call 415-250-7009 for more information.
- If you have large animals, they’ll be accepted at Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road; Sonoma Valley High School FFA, 20000 Broadway, Sonoma; and at the Ukiah Fairgrounds, 1055 N. State St, Ukiah.
Tips for evacuating during an emergency
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- Keep your pet inside its kennel or cage while you evacuate. This is a very scary time for everyone, and the last thing you want is for your pet to run away, perhaps into danger.
- If for some reason you are forced to leave your pets behind, do not lock them in the house, a carrier or a dog run where they’d have no chance of escaping the fire.
- Grab collars and leashes, and a small supply of food that will hold your pet over for a day or two.
- Drinking water is important, especially for stressed animals.
- If possible, grab their bed or a blanket to provide them with a familiar scent and to give them a designated spot.
Helping out
If you’d like to donate money, your time or materials, but are unsure where to go, Fundly, a Petaluma-based website that hosts fund-raising efforts, can help direct you. Check out their site, which has links to various groups and tips on starting campaigns for fire victims.
Most of the employees of the site have evacuated, but the site remains up and running.
Two Facebook pages — the Napa/Santa Rosa Fires: Lost Animals and the Napa/Santa Rosa Fires Animal Evacuations 2017 — have been started to coordinate animal rescues, post notices of missing animals, report found pets and solicit funds, supplies and foster homes for displaced and evacuated pets.
