VENTURA COUNTY — On October 30, 2019 at 6:30am, Animal Control Officers at Ventura County Animal Services were activated in response to the “Easy” Fire. They were dispatched alongside the Sheriff’s Posse and our Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (EVRT) to rescue large animals from within the mandatory evacuation areas. Meanwhile VCAS Animal Control Officers staffed the Ventura County Fairgrounds 24-hours a day to impound animals brought in by these field teams as well as from private citizens who had no other place to bring their livestock.
Additional kennels were constructed at the Camarillo Animal Shelter to handle the influx of small animals who were coming in for safekeeping.
MARIA FIRE INTAKE: 76 Livestock + 80 Domestic Animals = 156 TOTAL
On Halloween night (10/31) at 6:30pm, our teams again were activated and dispatched to respond to the “Maria” Fire. At 10:30pm, approximately 45 dogs were evacuated from the Balcom Canyon Pet Lodge to the Camarillo Animal Shelter. Additional domestic animals were brought to the Camarillo Shelter from residents within evacuation areas. Shelter staff and volunteers converged at the Camarillo Animal Shelter after-hours to assist with the safe intake of these domestic animals. Our 7,000 square foot Puppy Playground served as a staging area for these new arrivals. Dozens of kennels were erected. Staff and volunteers from both the Balcom Canyon Pet Lodge and Dog Days Search & Rescue were on-site to help construct shelters, take dogs for walks, and provide emotional support to the frightened animals. Fortunately, these animals were only in our care for about a day until evacuation orders were lifted.
Ventura County Animal Services is an official safekeeping location for those who are unable to secure shelter for their animals during mandatory evacuations.
“I would like to thank our dedicated staff and volunteers who responded to these back-to-back fire events, many of whom worked 12- and 24-hour shifts in an effort to provide the much-needed care to the influx of animals coming into our shelter,” said Jackie Rose, Director of Ventura County Animal Services. She goes on to say, “Please, please, please have a plan. If you live within the wildlife interface areas, and you have large animals, practice loading them into trailers. If you have small domestic animals, be sure to have a ‘Go Bag’ of pet supplies that you can grab in a pinch if you are given the order to evacuate. As we have seen, these winds can push fires with high speeds and we all must be prepared.”
In total, Ventura County Animal Services cared for 339 animals during these two wildfire events.
Number and types of animals brought in for safekeeping during the Maria and Easy Fires:
- 200 Horses 20 Cats 4 Donkeys 3 Rats 1 Pig
70 Dogs 5 Chinchillas 3 Mules 2 Guinea Pigs 1 Snake - 21 Goats 5 Ponies 3 Rabbits
- 1 Bird
For comparison: Maria/Easy Fires 2019 Hill/Woolsey Fires 2018
- 339 animals
- 356 animals
- 1,404 animals