As wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, many residents are faced with the devastating challenge of evacuating their homes while ensuring the safety of their beloved animals. Among them is Janell Gruss, manager of a stable with 25 horses. When the fires erupted, Gruss, caught in 100-mile-an-hour winds and thick smoke, had to navigate through dangerous conditions to evacuate the animals.
“The last horse we had to get out… it was pretty bad,” Gruss recalled, visibly shaken. “It was very smoky. It was dark. I couldn’t see where I was.” The scene was chaotic, with horses panicking and tripping over debris. Gruss feared for her life as she struggled to get the animals to safety, saying, “I thought I might have been one of those casualties.”
In total, over 150,000 people have been forced to evacuate, and with many needing to bring their pets along, local shelters like the Los Angeles Equestrian Center have become vital refuges. The center has opened its doors to a variety of animals, including donkeys, pigs, and ponies. Jennie Nevin, the center’s communications director, described the first night as “very busy and chaotic,” with people arriving from all over to shelter their animals.
Meanwhile, activists, veterinarians, and volunteers have been working tirelessly to rescue and care for animals in need. The Pasadena Humane Society has taken in around 400 animals from Altadena, where more than 14,000 acres have burned. One of their patients, a five-day-old puppy, was found in the rubble with burned ears.
Annie Harvilicz, founder of the Animal Wellness Center, has been overwhelmed with requests. “This is just the beginning,” she warned, noting that as the fire recedes, more injured and displaced animals will be found.
As the fires continue, the heroic efforts of animal lovers and volunteers provide a glimmer of hope amid the catastrophe.
