Animal Services helps evacuate hundreds of horses from Valley fires

The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services helped evacuate 276 horses and 132 small animals from the Sesnon and Marek fires in the north San Fernando Valley, the department reported today.

According to the department, 159 horses were taken to Pierce College, 46 to Hansen Dam, nine to Peter Pitchess Honor Farm in Castaic, and 62 to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

As for smaller animals -- such as chickens, goats, sheep and rabbits -- 108 were taken to the Mission Animal Care Center and another 24 to the West Valley Animal Care Center.

One cat was reported singed; one poodle is on medication for seizures; one horse sustained a gash -- it presumably cut itself on a fence -- and another horse sustained a leg injury while running. Both injured horses were transported to a veterinarian for treatment.

All other animals are reported to be doing well, the department said.

The department’s Animal Rescue Team responded to a call to recover two horses killed by the fire on a ranch in the Browns Canyon area.

Southern California residents were reminded to keep their pets inside during the fires. Animal Services said that anyone who sees a sick or injured animal should stay away from it and call (888) 452-7381 for help.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta

Photo: Ann Johansson / Getty Images

Comments

[Brien Comerford]

God bless the compassionate, humane and valiant paragons of benevolence who are saving the lives of traumatized horses, dogs, cats and other priceless companion animals.

[Honesty]

The fires were in LA County, not LA City. LA County Animal Control evacuated those horses, not the City. It's not their jurisdiction.

The city did take in some county animals as per the city. Unfortunately our shelters were full when they did that. That means we had to kill city animals to make room for county animals. We also used city personnel and money to help county animals. Why did Boks authorize this? For positive press. We're way over the budget as it is, not enough money to feed our own animals. Let county do their job.

Your story is a copy/paste of the Departments press release.

[Fine]

I'm all for people helping animals. I'm not for people taking credit when others do the work. LA County is in charge of moving the horses to safety. The City did not save the 276 horses. Notice the City press release says "helped." I was down there. The County did all the work. I didn't see the City anywhere. The horses are all in LA County facilities.

The SPCALA also helped out the County. They just helped move the animals.

Why is the head of LA City animal control trying to take credit for others work? And why is he now fundraising to help the animal victims of the fire? You know he's not going to give the dog food and money to county. He'll keep it, along with the positive press and credit.

Thank you LA County and SPCALA for helping these animals. Thank you LA City for housing some of the small animals. I just hope it wasn't at the expense of other animals. This reminds me when LA City wanted to fly some Katrina dogs into the shelter. Fortunately everyone said that LA City is a disaster zone all the time. We can't take in animals from another disaster zone because it'd mean killing our own animals to make room.