As L.A. Burned, Local Shelter Took in 800 Displaced Animals, Even Putting 'a Pony in the Garage'

Mar. 15, 2025

Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty

Grateful to be alive, the drivers were also desperate to find someone to watch their pets while they stayed in human-only evacuation centers or slept in their cars.

“We’ve taken in more than 800,” says McManus, who adds that in recent days pet owners have begun returning to pick up their four-legged family members. “We have cats in people’s offices, dogs in pop-up crates in our training room. We even had a pony in one of our garages," he shares.

People arriving with their pets at an evacuation center in Pasadena after fleeing wildfires in the Los Angeles area on January 10, 2025.AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty

AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty

Although Pasadena Humane has dealt with animals caught up in wildfires and other disasters in the past, the recent fires that began burning in several locations aroundLos Angeles on Jan. 7has created an unprecedented demand for their services.

“It’s normal for us to respond to fires,” says McManus of his organization’s transformation into an “emergency boarding” facility. “Occasionally we’ll take in a handful of animals and the fire gets put out and then a day or three later, the people come and get their animals and that’s the end of it. But we’ve never experienced anything of this magnitude.”

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Once the group realized the scope of devastation, officials at the organization decided to relocate hundreds of animals awaiting adoption to make way for the influx of fire-evacuated pets they predicted would soon be coming their way. Within days, groups likeBest Friend,Santa Barbara Humaneandthe San Diego Humane Societybegan taking away the animals in an effort to open up more floor space at the facility.

Pasadena Humane also put out a plea on social media, asking for supplies. In a testament to how many Los Angeles residents love animals, McManus says the organization was quickly overwhelmed with extra-large crates, bowls, blankets and towels. “People were lining up to donate goods and volunteer,” he explains. “Our entire parking lot was quickly filled with items.”

But for every loss, the shelter’s staff and volunteers have helped save the lives of countless others while also making the lives of hundreds of evacuated animals just a bit less stressful.

A happy cat reunion thanks to the Pasadena Humane Society.Pasadena Humane Society

Pasadena Humane Society

“We have one dog here who has burns on all four paws after he jumped out of his family’s truck while they were evacuating from a fire in their neighborhood,” says McManus. “We could release him, but we’re keeping him and doing bandage changes every day because his owner doesn’t have a home to go back to.”

Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

source: people.com