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The response to the California wildfires extended to evacuating and sheltering people's pets and horses much more than in previous disasters—and local veterinarians were on hand to assist.
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| On Oct. 26, a firefighter pauses to look at a wall of flames in San Diego County. |
Not all animals escaped the flames, though, and some animals that survived required treatment for burns. Dr. Terry Paik, the San Diego County coordinator for veterinary disaster response, said several veterinarians lost their homes.
"Most of the veterinarians are back to their practices, receiving calls from their clients," Dr. Paik said Oct. 29, about a week after the worst of the wildfires.
At the height of the disaster, Dr. Paik said, veterinarians monitored the health of animals at evacuation centers. Many of the sites, including Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, allowed people to take their pets with them. The American Red Cross also allowed pets at its shelters, unlike during Hurricane Katrina.
Dr. Paik, who is an equine practitioner, noted that San Diego County has a large number of horses. A few of the larger evacuation sites, such as the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, housed hundreds of horses. Some horse owners stayed with their animals in the parking lots of shopping malls. Feed suppliers provided tons of hay.
People evacuated more animals during the recent wildfires than during the fires that burned much of the same area in 2003, Dr. Paik said. Some people still had to leave animals behind because they waited too long or because the fires were moving too fast.
"The main message we're trying to get across is for people to be prepared, have an evacuation plan, and practice that plan," Dr. Paik said.
Pauline White, administrator of the San Diego County VMA, said she knows of four veterinarians who lost their homes.
"I do believe all clinics are safe and sound," White said. "Many were evacuated."
Precautionary evacuations gave people enough time to move their animals, White said. Animal deaths and injuries did not appear to be as extensive as veterinarians had feared, she said, except among wildlife.
"Our city was burning, our county was burning," White said. "Veterinarians evacuated, and they simply mobilized themselves."
White said she does not know the extent to which the state and local governments have implemented the federal Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act. Nevertheless, she said, officials are aware that providing for pets is becoming one of the requirements for disaster response.
Valerie Fenstermaker, executive director of the California VMA, said the state program for responding to all animals during disasters is the California Animal Response Emergency System. The CVMA operates the Veterinary Disaster Response Coordinator program in cooperation with the state. Each county has a coordinator and team.
"We've been working under this same system for a while," Fenstermaker said.
In response to the fires, Fenstermaker said, the CVMA also e-mailed members throughout Southern California to ask for assistance. Many veterinarians have housed horses or pets for evacuees. Veterinary technicians and other staff offered their services. The veterinary industry delivered supplies to the San Diego area.
As of Oct. 29, Fenstermaker said, many people whose houses or land had burned still were not able to return home with their animals.
The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services is the county's lead agency for responding to animals during disasters. Lieutenant Daniel DeSousa said his department rescued animals with help from the San Diego Humane Society and other groups-including the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, South East Area Animal Control Agency, and Humane Society of the United States.
Workers and volunteers continued to deliver feed and other supplies for animals in various communities. Officers with animal services found horses, cats, and dogs suffering from burns. Lieutenant DeSousa said officers have paid an emotional toll from finding animals that burned to death, such as 15 goats in one field.
Lieutenant DeSousa said the fires seemed to be as bad or worse this time as in 2003 because so many fires were spreading simultaneously.
"We obviously saw a lot more people evacuating with their animals this time around," he said. "Hopefully, there are less injuries."
Lieutenant DeSousa added that more human shelters may have allowed animals because they learned from Hurricane Katrina that people won't evacuate otherwise.
San Diego County also is home to some livestock operations, including poultry farms. The California Department of Food and Agriculture took steps to assist livestock owners during the fires, even transporting milk from dairies to processing facilities.
"Our highest priority is protecting human life," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in the midst of evacuations. "With that said, we must also do whatever we can to save and protect our livestock and (other) animals that are affected by this emergency."
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is offering support to veterinarians in Southern California through individual reimbursement and relief awards. The AVMF created the grant program after Hurricane Katrina to ensure veterinary care to the animal victims of disasters. More details about the program are available at www.avmf.org.
Veterinarians who suffer losses because of the wildfires or who incur costs by offering medical services to animal victims can apply for up to $2,000 by contacting Monique Buonincontro, AVMF grants coordinator, at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6691, or at mbuonincontro@avma.org. The funds can cover medical expenses, equipment, modest boarding, some travel, loss of property, and other expenses.
The AVMA also advises veterinary professionals who need help or who wish to offer help to contact the California VMA at (800) 655-2862. The CVMA Web site is at www.cvma.net.
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