Santa Barbara fire: Animals are affected too

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As the Jesusita fire continues to rage in Santa Barbara, humans aren’t the only ones to feel its effects.

UC Santa Barbara professor Albert Lindemann told The Times that his two pet donkeys, Pollyanna and Angelina, escaped their corral at his home on Tunnel Road as the flames closed in. Pollyanna later returned, but Lindemann has yet to find Angelina. Nearby on Holly Road, resident Bob Klein pointed out the burned bodies of six goats -- perhaps the same animals that had been brought in earlier to clear brush in the area.

The Santa Barbara Independent reports that the county health department’s animal services division had already provided emergency care for more than 300 evacuated animals. A day later, the department is requesting donations of items such as dry and canned dog and cat food, cat litter and animal crates to help deal with the influx of needy animals. Horses and other large animals are being temporarily housed at the Earl Warren Showgrounds.

Our colleague Jen Leo at the Daily Travel & Deal Blog has a great list of Santa Barbara-area hotels that accept pets, including room availability and rates. For more information on animal evacuations call the Santa Barbara Animal Services hotline at (805) 682-4332.

--Lindsay Barnett

Earl Warren Showgrounds, where horses evacuated from the path of the Jesusita fire are being temporarily housed. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times