LOS ANGELES — Arianna Buturovic, who operates a rescue shelter for at-risk dogs outside Los Angeles, witnessed smoke billowing from nearby mountains as wildfires began to encroach on her facility. When the fire intensified, she managed to shove 15 dogs and two cats into her car, but still had nine dogs and a pig that needed evacuation. With quick thinking, she flagged down some local teenagers with a truck to help transport the remaining animals to safety, leaving the corral open for two ponies to escape if necessary.
“That’s how we evacuated almost 30 animals,” Buturovic recounted, describing the frantic situation.
Buturovic’s experience reflects a broader panic among animal owners in Los Angeles who have been forced to flee from fast-moving wildfires that tragically claimed 11 lives and destroyed over 12,000 homes and structures this week. The fires have overwhelmed local shelters, prompting leaders to urge residents to seek family or friends to temporarily care for their pets if possible.
In the Altadena area, Wendy Winter and her husband quickly decided to set up cat carriers for their felines Purry Mason and Jerry, only to realize they needed to evacuate less than two hours later. They later learned that their home, where they had resided for over seven years, had been reduced to ashes.
“There’s fear and loss, and you just don’t even know,” she shared. “You’re in shock.”
In the aftermath of these devastating fires, the Pasadena Humane Society took in 250 pets on the first day alone, while Los Angeles County Animal Care was responsible for nearly 100 animals, including various pets beyond just cats and dogs.
Veterinarian Dr. Annie Harvilicz, initially in the process of relocating her Animal Wellness Centers office, transformed her facility into an emergency shelter after being inspired by her brother’s need for assistance with his pets. Within no time, she took in 41 animals and successfully found foster homes for all but two.
“I’m very proud of the people of Los Angeles and how they’ve stepped up to help each other,” Harvilicz stated.
Meanwhile, Julia Bagan, a member of a local animal rescue group, recalled discovering five horses trapped in their stalls just one day after the fire’s onset. Fatefully, only a neighbor asking for help led to their release by firefighters.
Another local horse owner, Meredith McKenzie, proactively evacuated her horse days before the emergency, driven by a heightened awareness of the fire risk. Despite that foresight, McKenzie suffered losses when her ranch was consumed by flames, although other ranchers offered her replacements for her lost equipment.
As families and their beloved pets seek refuge from the raging wildfires, Buturovic’s rescue efforts continue amid the chaos. By the time she returned to her shelter the following day, it had succumbed to the flames.
“I don’t know where we’re going to go from here,” she expressed, emphasizing the uncertainty faced by many in the community as the impact of this disaster spreads.
