Animals and people are in trouble as fires continue to sweep through Southern California in the worst fire season on record. But news came late yesterday that this may be a case of arson.
Thousands have fled their homes, watching helplessly as the flames destroy homes and businessess and thousands of acres of land.
Today - pet lovers across the country are reaching out to help the victims of the California wildfires. If you would like to help displaced pets and people with donations of food, water, money, or your time as a volunteer - here are some resources.
But BEFORE you give -
and please give generously - I would like to ask that you give DIRECTLY to those organizations on the ground - the ones doing the REAL work.
What To Avoid
Opportunists are already in motion, begging for money - like HSUS - and Wayne Pacelle wasted no time exploiting this crisis as their next fundraising opportunity - sending out emails yesterday begging for "special donations" for their disaster teams and "FUTURE crisis work".
IMHO - animal lovers should AVOID giving to HSUS like plague - after all - they raised $40 million during Katrina and are still under investigation by the State Attorney General of Louisiana and STILL have yet to answer the question - where did the money go?
Give Directly To Groups On The Ground
Southern California, Susan Sholar, President of the California Federation of Dog Clubs (CFODC), has opened her California School of Dog Grooming in San Diego to coordinate both the distribution of donated pet supplies and available local boarding spaces.
Please send pet food, collars, leashes, crates, and other pet supplies to the California School of Dog Grooming. Financial contributions are gratefully accepted, and can be made out to "CFODC Fire Fund"
CFODC Fire Fund
California School of Dog Grooming
655 South Rancho Sante Fe Road
San Marcus, CA 92078
Phone: 1-800-949-3746
E-mail: cfodcfires@yahoo.
Local volunteers are also needed who can provide temporary foster care, kennel and boarding space, dog runs, or RV parking areas.
Displaced families needing help in providing for their pets' security and well-being should also immediately contact the California Federation of Dog Clubs for assistance.
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Animal Evacuation Information
http://www.10news.
Residents with domestic animals and livestock threatened by the various brush fires are being asked to evacuate their homes.
The San Diego Humane Society's Animal Rescue Reserve and the San Diego County Dept. of Animal Services are asking pets be placed in a crate or carrier and to bring any necessary supplies including leashes, food, water and medications.
Many Red Cross evacuation centers are accepting pets in carriers.
The following centers are taking pets and can provide supplies:
Qualcomm Stadium (9449 Friars Road)
Mira Mesa High School (10510 Reagan Road)
The following large animals or livestock sites are no longer accepting animals:
Lakeside Rodeo Grounds
Del Mar Fairgrounds
If you have animals or livestock that you cannot evacuate yourself or that need to be rescued, call 619-236-4250 and press "1" for emergency services.
If you have a stable or other areas that are safe and can house a number of large animals and livestock that need to be evacuated, please call the San Diego Humane Society at (619) 299-7012.
SDHS is also in need of portable livestock panels for temporary corrals. If you have these
available for use, please call (619) 299-7012.
Anyone with an available horse trailer please call the San Diego Animal Support Foundation immediately at 619-847-8755.
Volunteers and supplies are not needed at this time, but the San Diego Humane Society is keeping a list of names for people interested in helping.
If you would like to help, you can donate online at www.sdhumane.
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I found this great list on the web and wanted to share it with other animal lovers. For those of you who are interested in helping out monetarily with the animal rescue and animal emergency housing that is needed because of the California wildfires, here are a few places that are helping to save the animals. They could use your donations.
San Diego Humane Society
http://www.sdhumane.org
SPCA - Los Angeles
http://www.spcala.com
New Leash on Life (Castaic area)
http://www.newleash.org/home.asp
(click from main page on each to read about their efforts.)
On the human front, the Red Cross is always the first out there on the scene and the first to help people.
You can donate to the Red Cross Los Angeles at:
http://www.redcrossla.org/
or the Red Cross San Diego at:
http://www.sdarc.org/site/pp.asp?c=erKQL4NQE&b=127361
Also, VCA animal hospitals have also offered to board animals involved in southern California evacuations for FREE. Boarding assistance for pets is based on space availability at individual VCA Animal Hospitals throughout Southern California. Call the one closest to you for more information:
Alhambra VCA Mission Animal Hospital 626-289-3643
Arroyo Grande VCA South County Animal Hospital 805-489-1361
Bellflower VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital 562-633-8126
Big Bear City VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital 909-866-2021
Burbank VCA Animal Hospital (Burbank) 818-845-7246
Canoga Park VCA Companion Animal Hospital 818-340-1569
Cypress VCA College Park – Ana Brook Animal Hospital 714-827-6861
Encinitas VCA North Coast Animal Hospital 760-632-1072
Glendale VCA Arden Animal Hospital 818-246-2478
Hermosa Beach VCA Coast Animal Hospital 310-372-8881
Hesperia VCA Victor Valley Animal Hospital 760-244-8022
La Mesa VCA Grossmont Animal Hospital 619-697-0082
Laguna Niguel VCA Aliso Viejo Animal Hospital 949-643-0437
Lake Forest VCA Saddleback Animal Hospital 949-586-4250
Lake Forest VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital 949-770-1808
Long Beach VCA Los Altos Animal Hospital 562-421-3749
Los Alamitos VCA Rossmoor-El Dorado Animal Hospital 562-598-8621
Los Angeles VCA Miller-Robertson Animal Hospital 310-657-7050
Los Angeles VCA Petville Animal Hospital 310-313-9118
Mission Viejo VCA Mission Viejo Animal Hospital 949-582-1220
Monrovia VCA Santa Anita Animal Hospital 626-359-3281
Palm Springs VCA Desert Animal Hospital 760-778-9999
Pasadena VCA A Breed Apart Animal Hospital 626-795-4444
Rancho Mirage VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital 760-346-6103
Reseda VCA McClave Animal Hospital 818-881-5102
Ridgecrest VCA Crestwood Animal Hospital 760-446-7616
Rolling Hills Estates
VCA Silver Spur Animal Hospital
310-541-3331
San Diego VCA Angel Animal Hospital 619-291-0042
San Diego VCA Hillcrest Animal Hospital 619-299-7387
San Diego VCA Main Street Animal Hospital 619-232-7401
San Diego VCA West Bernardo Animal Hospital 858-485-7570
Santa Fe Springs VCA La Mirada Animal Hospital 562-921-3539
Santa Monica VCA Santa Monica Dog and Cat Hospital 310-453-5459
Santa Monica VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital 310-828-4587
Spring Valley VCA Paradise Valley Animal Hospital 619-475-9770
Temecula VCA El Rancho Animal Hospital 951-296-3898
Torrance VCA Clarmar Animal Hospital 310-371-2474
Torrance VCA Kennel Club Resort & Spa 310-539-2201
Upland VCA Central Animal Hospital 909-981-2855
Venice VCA Marina Animal Hospital 310-306-8707
Victorville VCA Mesa Animal Hospital 760-245-0109
Woodland Hills VCA Parkwood Animal Hospital 818-884-5506
This information was shared as a public service by your Animal Chaplains at www.AnimalChaplains.com. Please call the agencies directly if you need assistance.
Posted by: Chaplain Nancy Cronk | October 25, 2007 at 01:10 PM