LAKE COUNTY >> Dozens of animals were among those affected by the Sulphur Fire that was responsible for the damage to 168 structures. County animal shelter staff and volunteers are still working diligently to rescue pets and return others to their owners.
“We didn’t think that the first time we would use this would be for a situation like the Sulphur Fire,” Lake County Animal Control Director William Davidson said. He was referring to the brand new, 24-foot response trailer that was ready to house multiple animals for fire victims. The state-of-the-art trailer is a “self-serving” resource for owners to safely leave their pets with food and shelter, while owners “focus on themselves.” Through a sign-up sheet system, owners can check-out their pets and take them for walks and return them to the trailer when they would like to. Davidson said the plan was to offer the resource previous weeks ago, but a few steps were still needed to officially offer the service. All that seemed less important when the county shelter received a myriad amount of calls from fire victims.
Just when Davidson was ready to bring the trailer to Twin Pine Casino in Middletown, where over 100 locals evacuated with their pets, “we got hit with an advisory evacuation.” The alert, though not mandatory, came as a result of the Tubbs Fire making its way toward Middletown, as reported by Cal Fire. The shelter took the decision to take extra precautionary steps to hold the trailer for another location if need be.
While Davidson, staff, and volunteers monitored evacuation alerts, they continued to offer food, crates, and other animal necessities at the Casino shelter. By Tuesday, LCAC said they were almost at capacity for fire rescues, housing 24 dogs, 1 rabbit, 1 tortoise, 1 calf, and 12 cats.
“We are still responding to rescue calls,” Davidson said. LCAC volunteers said they are happy to hear many evacuees are returning home and picking up their pets. Those that are still without notice of their pets left behind are encouraged to call, where volunteers will go to the address provided and do their best to rescue the animal.
“If we can’t catch them, we will leave food and water,” said Davidson.
Similar to LCAC was SPCA of Lake County. Representatives from the volunteer-run organization said they were teaming up with LCAC to aid as many pets as possible through rescue missions, sheltering, feeding, and providing vaccines.
Animal sheltering is something the county organizations are far too familiar with as a result of previous fire incidents like the Valley Fire.
The Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport is among them. LC Fair’s Chief Executive Officer Debbie Strickler said the fairgrounds was preparing for any animal, large and small, after receiving calls from animal owners affected by the Mendocino Lake Complex fire in Mendocino County.
According to the Ukiah Daily Journal, 60 to 70 horses and about three dozen goats were already housed at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds within 24 hours of the fire that began Sunday night. By Thursday morning, 151 horses, 105 goats, 10 sheep, and dozens more were sheltered at the Fairgrounds.
“We received calls and are ready to assist during these times,” Strickler said Thursday.
Other local shelters are still busy conducting rescues, offering food and shelter. The Clearlake Animal Shelter in Clearlake announced Tuesday that they are “urgently” in need of dog fosters and rescuers. To contact the shelter, call 707-994-8201.
