Winds reaching 100 mph fueled flames ricocheting through Altadena, a community located about 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles. As evacuation orders were issued, Irish Water Spaniel breeder Florence Blecher offered temporary shelter in the guest room of her Hollywood Hills home to Sally Lewis, Lois MacDonald, and their three Irish Water Spaniels. The Eaton Canyon residents fled when flames erupted four blocks away.
Still, they had no idea where to go with their dogs, 9-month-old “Joplin,” 4-year-old “Clara,” and 9-year-old “Darcy.” “We were scared and anxious, not knowing where to go,” Lewis recalls. “But when Florence invited us to stay with her, we felt a wave of relief and gratitude,” says Lewis. The wildfires whipping across the Greater Los Angeles area have destroyed 40,000 acres, killing at least 27 people and destroying more than 12,300 structures, forcing thousands of people in Pacific Palisades and Altadena to leave their homes.
Thanks to Blecher and others in the dog show and performance communities, Lewis, MacDonald, and other exhibitors and their dogs have found refuge as wildfires continue to impact the lives of those in the Los Angeles-area.
Florence Blecher
“As soon as I heard the Santa Ana winds were causing wildfires in their neighborhood, I called Lewis and MacDonald to come here,” says Blecher, who mentored them in the breed 15 years ago. “It was the right thing to do, and dog people just do it.”
After Blecher’s call, a fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, and she received an alert to shelter in place. “I made up the guest room in the dark and figured we might all have to evacuate,” Blecher says. Fortunately, firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.
But with three large canine couch crashers joining the household, it meant Blecher’s two Irish Water Spaniels, 5-year-old “Peaseblossom Peasie” and 13-year-old “Leda” would have to share yard space. “It’s a lot of brown, curly action going on in one place, but it worked out,” Blecher says.
In 2018, Doberman Pinscher breeder-owner Gwen Lucoff lost three homes in Malibu. She and her husband bought a mobile home and lived in it with their two Dobermans for six years until their rebuilding was completed.
When fire broke out in nearby Pacific Palisades, the fire survivor offered space for evacuees with dogs to park their motor homes on her property. “I also remember how people reached out to me when I needed it,” says Lucoff. “I know first-hand how important it is for dogs to have outside time.” Lucoff continues to contact Doberman Pinscher owners in Southern California who may be affected and need help.
And these are just a few of the ways dog people are helping their communities. Sandra Groeschel, a Beagle breeder and AKC provisional judge, isn’t a fire survivor but offered to share her home in the Antelope Valley with people and their dogs needing a place to stay. Whippet breeder Christy Nelson also offered temporary lodging in her Phelan, California home for dog owners who lost their homes. “It’s important to share what we have with others,” says Nelson. Dr. Dana Bleifer, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever breeder, notified dog owners that her Rose City Veterinary Hospital in Pasadena, California, offered free boarding for pets affected by wildfires. Dr. Barry Baum, DVM, a French Bulldog breeder in Los Angeles and AKC judge, also provided free pet boarding.
AKC Reunite, a non-profit pet microchip and recovery service program, has also helped to reunite pets with their owners during this time. Microchipping your pet is crucial in reuniting lost pets with their owners during any disaster. “Microchips are part of your pet disaster checklist,” says Tom Sharp, President and CEO of AKC Reunite. “Taking your dog’s medications, the microchip number, and pet records can prevent stress later.”
AKC Reunite provides grants to non-profit organizations caring for dogs during a disaster. To help with expenses incurred during the Los Angeles fires, AKC Reunite donated $10,000 in emergency cash grants to the Pasadena Humane Society and the LA County Animal Care Foundation. The Santa Barbara Humane Society also received $5,000. These funds will help pay for emergency supplies, such as towels and dog food, as well as overtime pay for staff members responding to the emergency,
While not every dog owner can offer housing during an emergency, many kennel club members choose to donate money to purchase and stock AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailers. These trailers belong to emergency management agencies that manage the vehicles. The trailers come stocked with equipment for dogs during a disaster, including 65 extra-large and medium fold-up wire crates on heavy carts, a generator, cleaning supplies, trash bags, brooms, kitty litter, microchips, and a scanner.
“Once delivered to the facility, shelter personnel open the back and can begin unloading it.”
Escaping a sudden disaster is everyone’s worst nightmare, but evacuating with one or more dogs can be an additional challenge. Hotel rooms fill up fast, and finding one that accepts dogs can be difficult. Plus, not everyone has family or friends who can accommodate their dogs, and many evacuation centers do not allow pets.
Sally Lewis
“Even if you don’t need a place to stay, the conformation and performance communities are like extended families,” says Peri Norman, a Belgian Malinois breeder-owner-handler and AKC judge. “We build relationships over time and have a reputation for helping other dog owners.”
When Norman received a stand-by evacuation notice in her neighborhood near the Palisades, she received a dozen calls from people checking on her. Four offered a place to stay.
“Hearing from friends who offer help or just checking on you during a disaster is comforting,” Norman says. “I felt noticed and valued.”
The experience prompts Norman to remind dog owners of the importance of emergency planning for their pets. “Keep collars with updated microchips and identification tags on your dogs and have slip leads available for every dog in your household,” Norman says. “If you have multiple dogs, make sure you can transport them all in your car if you have to leave.”
Though many people prefer to keep their dogs with them during stressful times for comfort, it can be helpful to find a reputable boarding facility ahead of time, in case you need to board your pet during an emergency.
The post Dog Owners Offer Help as a Fire Disaster Rage Through Los Angeles appeared first on American Kennel Club.
Read more...
Still, they had no idea where to go with their dogs, 9-month-old “Joplin,” 4-year-old “Clara,” and 9-year-old “Darcy.” “We were scared and anxious, not knowing where to go,” Lewis recalls. “But when Florence invited us to stay with her, we felt a wave of relief and gratitude,” says Lewis. The wildfires whipping across the Greater Los Angeles area have destroyed 40,000 acres, killing at least 27 people and destroying more than 12,300 structures, forcing thousands of people in Pacific Palisades and Altadena to leave their homes.
Caring for Displaced People and Dogs
Thanks to Blecher and others in the dog show and performance communities, Lewis, MacDonald, and other exhibitors and their dogs have found refuge as wildfires continue to impact the lives of those in the Los Angeles-area.
Florence Blecher
“As soon as I heard the Santa Ana winds were causing wildfires in their neighborhood, I called Lewis and MacDonald to come here,” says Blecher, who mentored them in the breed 15 years ago. “It was the right thing to do, and dog people just do it.”
After Blecher’s call, a fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, and she received an alert to shelter in place. “I made up the guest room in the dark and figured we might all have to evacuate,” Blecher says. Fortunately, firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.
But with three large canine couch crashers joining the household, it meant Blecher’s two Irish Water Spaniels, 5-year-old “Peaseblossom Peasie” and 13-year-old “Leda” would have to share yard space. “It’s a lot of brown, curly action going on in one place, but it worked out,” Blecher says.
From Loss to Support
In 2018, Doberman Pinscher breeder-owner Gwen Lucoff lost three homes in Malibu. She and her husband bought a mobile home and lived in it with their two Dobermans for six years until their rebuilding was completed.
When fire broke out in nearby Pacific Palisades, the fire survivor offered space for evacuees with dogs to park their motor homes on her property. “I also remember how people reached out to me when I needed it,” says Lucoff. “I know first-hand how important it is for dogs to have outside time.” Lucoff continues to contact Doberman Pinscher owners in Southern California who may be affected and need help.
And these are just a few of the ways dog people are helping their communities. Sandra Groeschel, a Beagle breeder and AKC provisional judge, isn’t a fire survivor but offered to share her home in the Antelope Valley with people and their dogs needing a place to stay. Whippet breeder Christy Nelson also offered temporary lodging in her Phelan, California home for dog owners who lost their homes. “It’s important to share what we have with others,” says Nelson. Dr. Dana Bleifer, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever breeder, notified dog owners that her Rose City Veterinary Hospital in Pasadena, California, offered free boarding for pets affected by wildfires. Dr. Barry Baum, DVM, a French Bulldog breeder in Los Angeles and AKC judge, also provided free pet boarding.
Providing Aid Through AKC Reunite
AKC Reunite, a non-profit pet microchip and recovery service program, has also helped to reunite pets with their owners during this time. Microchipping your pet is crucial in reuniting lost pets with their owners during any disaster. “Microchips are part of your pet disaster checklist,” says Tom Sharp, President and CEO of AKC Reunite. “Taking your dog’s medications, the microchip number, and pet records can prevent stress later.”
AKC Reunite provides grants to non-profit organizations caring for dogs during a disaster. To help with expenses incurred during the Los Angeles fires, AKC Reunite donated $10,000 in emergency cash grants to the Pasadena Humane Society and the LA County Animal Care Foundation. The Santa Barbara Humane Society also received $5,000. These funds will help pay for emergency supplies, such as towels and dog food, as well as overtime pay for staff members responding to the emergency,
While not every dog owner can offer housing during an emergency, many kennel club members choose to donate money to purchase and stock AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailers. These trailers belong to emergency management agencies that manage the vehicles. The trailers come stocked with equipment for dogs during a disaster, including 65 extra-large and medium fold-up wire crates on heavy carts, a generator, cleaning supplies, trash bags, brooms, kitty litter, microchips, and a scanner.
“Once delivered to the facility, shelter personnel open the back and can begin unloading it.”
The Importance of Emergency Planning
Escaping a sudden disaster is everyone’s worst nightmare, but evacuating with one or more dogs can be an additional challenge. Hotel rooms fill up fast, and finding one that accepts dogs can be difficult. Plus, not everyone has family or friends who can accommodate their dogs, and many evacuation centers do not allow pets.
Sally Lewis
“Even if you don’t need a place to stay, the conformation and performance communities are like extended families,” says Peri Norman, a Belgian Malinois breeder-owner-handler and AKC judge. “We build relationships over time and have a reputation for helping other dog owners.”
When Norman received a stand-by evacuation notice in her neighborhood near the Palisades, she received a dozen calls from people checking on her. Four offered a place to stay.
“Hearing from friends who offer help or just checking on you during a disaster is comforting,” Norman says. “I felt noticed and valued.”
The experience prompts Norman to remind dog owners of the importance of emergency planning for their pets. “Keep collars with updated microchips and identification tags on your dogs and have slip leads available for every dog in your household,” Norman says. “If you have multiple dogs, make sure you can transport them all in your car if you have to leave.”
Though many people prefer to keep their dogs with them during stressful times for comfort, it can be helpful to find a reputable boarding facility ahead of time, in case you need to board your pet during an emergency.
The post Dog Owners Offer Help as a Fire Disaster Rage Through Los Angeles appeared first on American Kennel Club.
Read more...
