“They are actually in a better situation,” she said. “They are in air conditioning. It’s the Ritz-Carlton of the pet world over there. It’s better actually for me to know someone else is taking care of them. That’s just one less thing I have to worry about.”
Residents and their pets began streaming in to the evacuation center after sheriff’s deputies issued mandatory evacuations Friday night for some hillside neighborhoods.
Officials had set up a shaded animal shelter at the high school so residents could be close to their pets.
“We have been set up since Thursday midnight,” said Elizabeth Campo, the society’s senior vice president of administration.
Rabbits, dogs, snakes, turtles and cats — none of which were injured — trickled into the rescue, where crates with blankets and bowls of iced water and food were waiting.
“People are getting out with plenty of time, at least the ones who have come here,” she said.
The outdoor animal rescue also has a quarantined area for pets with injuries or illnesses.
A veterinarian was on call. As temperatures rose, pets were bused to the air-conditioned Pasadena shelter with their owners’ permission, Campo said.
The society brought on additional staff to deal with the high demand of rescues from the fire, as well as providing animal control services for seven cities. Animal owners should make sure their pets have proper identification, especially if they are separated before getting to a shelter, she said.
Campo advised residents to follow evacuation orders “because the fire and the smoke affects [pets] just as much as it does humans.”
The Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Lakeview Terrace was taking large animals, such as horses. But that was full on Sunday, said Jo Lasky, an American Red Cross spokeswoman. Additional rescues of large animals were being directed to Pierce College and the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.
Claudia, who declined to give her last name, and her family arrived just after 2:30 a.m. at the La Cañada evacuation center and said she was relieved to see an animal rescue for her cat and three dogs.
David Anderson grabbed his personal belongings and his 19-year-old cat, Frisky, and went to the center Saturday after sheriff’s deputies insisted he evacuate due to approaching flames.
It was a first in more ways than one for Frisky.
“He was actually really cool when they put him in the cage because he has never been in a cage,” Anderson said.
