Lakeport >> Before, Haji Warf had been on Cobb Mountain two or three times — maybe.
“But these roads, now, I know like the back of my hand,” she said.
Soon after the Valley Fire broke out Warf began going up the mountain to feed cats, many domesticated pets who were left behind the Saturday afternoon the blaze erupted.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “They are so gray and ashy. Hungry, but they are still there.”
Warf started catching cats and rescued 16 on her own with the intention to reunite them with their families.
More than a month after the fire, Warf has expanded her efforts into what she described as a massive trapping campaign. Word quickly spread online about her efforts, with social media the driving force. Multiple groups were created on Facebook in the wake of the Valley Fire to help owners find lost pets and thousands of people have joined. There’s The Valley Forest Fire Lost And Found Pets Group, Valley Fire — Lake County Lost or Found Pets and Valley Fire Pet Find where Warf has posted updates about her team’s efforts.
At an owner’s request, Warf and a team of seven other volunteers lay out traps on properties, but not before spending about 30 minutes scoping out the area for the best possible location.
It doesn’t matter about the trap, Warf said. “Knowledge is more important than the trap.” And in order to catch a cat, “you have to think like a cat.”
The group has been working into the night every night to retrieve the animals, Warf said. She got home at 10:30 p.m. on Monday, but said it was a good day. They managed to rescue five cats, with an average of anywhere from one to three cats ending up in the traps daily. The total as of Tuesday was 24 cats saved.
Once safe and secure, they take the creatures to Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic in Lakeport to receive a check up.
Veterinary technician Polly Holt said most of the animals Warf and the volunteers have brought in were just displaced and relatively unharmed. Only a few suffered from burnt toes and heals, which has been the most common injury she’s seen, along with shriveled whiskers or singed fur.
About 30 cats have come through the clinic’s doors since the fire, some brought in by rescuers and others by the owners to treat burns. Three cats were there on Wednesday and the owners of two are still unknown.
Holt said with so many cats lost, the fire has emphasized the importance of micro chipping them. Only two have been returned to their families using chips, but she encourages more people to get them.
If animals aren’t reunited with owners, they are transported to Lake County Animal Care and Control (LCACC) in Lakeport where displaced animals are being sheltered, including chickens and three horses.
LCACC will house the animals until they are claimed or Oct. 28, after which they will be put up for adoption or open for other rescue groups to foster.
To find out if an animal is at LCACC, call (707) 263-0278.
