Veterinary community unites as California wildfires rage
The devastating wildfires burning through the Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding regions since January 7 have killed at least 28 people, forced over 200,000 residents to evacuate, and damaged or destroyed nearly 16,000 homes and buildings as of January 23.
More than 40,000 acres have so far been consumed by the fires, fueled by dry conditions and hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds reaching upwards of 100 miles per hour. The Eaton and Pacific Palisades wildfires have been particularly destructive, largely expected to rank among the top five worst in California’s history.
Southern California
It’s difficult for people who haven’t experienced a typical Southern California wildfire season to grasp just how unusually aggressive these fires have been, said Dr. Jennifer Hawkins, executive director of the Southern California VMA (SCVMA). She barely slept the night of January 7 on account of the Santa Ana winds, which were strong enough to bend trees to the ground in her yard.
“I live about 70 miles south of where the fires are, and Wednesday morning (January 8) the air smelled of smoke and my car was covered in ash,” Dr. Hawkins said.
“What's so strange about this fire is it’s well beyond the capacity of our emergency crews to contain,” she continued, “just 100-mile-an-hour winds blowing those embers. The decimation of those neighborhoods and other areas is extreme and not something we (typically) see.”
Dr. Hawkins knows of at least four veterinary hospitals damaged by the fires, including a hospital in the Pacific Palisades area that burned to the ground. One SCVMA member lost his house and has been living with his wife in his veterinary hospital.
The SCVMA is providing grants and resources to support displaced veterinarians and pet owners, Dr. Hawkins added. Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters across the region collaborated to manage the influx of evacuated animals, with Pasadena Humane Society and other organizations taking in both small and large animals.
Dr. Hawkins praised the local veterinary network’s ability to mobilize and the strong support from the community. Horse owners and trainers quickly relocated animals to nearby facilities, including Los Angeles Pierce College.
“We’re so grateful for this community,” Dr. Hawkins said. “The veterinary community is always so tight knit. We take care of each other.”
Heroic efforts
Dr. Annie Harvilicz, founder and chief medical officer of Animal Wellness Centers in Los Angeles County, spearheaded a comprehensive response to the January 7 fires, providing essential support for dozens of displaced pets and their owners.
It was the same day her brother’s house in the Palisades burned down. He texted her, asking if he, along with his dog, cat, and rabbit, could stay with her.
“I realized how bad this was actually going to be, and I wanted to do something, but I didn’t know what,” Dr. Harvilicz recalled. “So, I posted on Facebook the last photo my brother took from his house, and I wrote, ‘I have an empty veterinary hospital we can fill with animals that need to be evacuated.’” The property had been vacant since Dr. Harvilicz opened a new clinic in Marina del Ray.
What started as a small gesture quickly grew. “The majority of the emails I received were from people wanting to help,” Dr. Harvilicz said. Offers of supplies, crates, and support flooded in.
She housed several pets, including a woman’s 10 cats and two dogs, and a rancher’s 15 rescue dogs. Her two veterinary clinics transformed into temporary homes, with examination rooms and empty spaces used to accommodate animals in need. Owners, many overwhelmed by the fire’s impact, found solace in knowing their pets were safe.
Dr. Harvilicz stayed up late for days, advising people to take their pets with them, connecting evacuees to pet-friendly shelters, and providing direct support for those unable to manage evacuations on their own. For instance, she coordinated a plan for a disabled woman with three cats by connecting her with a local client willing to assist.
“In retrospect, I'm hoping that it helps people feel more supported to get their animals out with them, because that was my biggest fear—that people panic and they leave their animals behind—and I just didn't want anybody doing that,” she said.
To meet evolving needs, Dr. Harvilicz set up a free pet store at a third vacant facility, stocking donated items such as food, bowls, and bedding. This resource served evacuees and local unhoused individuals with pets.
Dr. Harvilicz also treated animals injured by the fires. Her new facility in Marina del Rey became a hub for veterinary care, with volunteer specialists donating their time to treat injured animals, such as a dog with a broken leg requiring orthopedic surgery and another with Cushing’s disease needing specialized care.
Western University
Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, California, is roughly 25 miles from the nearest wildfires. It may seem like a safe distance, said Dr. John Tegzes, dean of Western’s veterinary college, but it really isn’t, considering how fast these fires were moving.
“The fires were quite far from the campus itself, but the speed with which the fires were moving made everyone pause and say, ‘Okay, I know I'm not in a fire zone now but am I going to be in an hour?’” Dr. Tegzes said. “It’s a really weird feeling and you have to prepare yourself mentally.”
Although Western’s campus hasn’t been damaged by the fires, the same can’t be said for its community. Two veterinary students and one faculty member lost their homes, while around 10 other veterinary students and faculty were displaced. Fortunately for them, the university received a multimillion-dollar donation to support members of the Western community affected by the fires.
“We’ve been able to give financial support to the two students in the College of Veterinary Medicine, we’ve been able to help them to secure some housing,” Dr. Tegzes said. “We’ve also been able to put any faculty, staff, or students in a hotel near the university, so if anybody either couldn't stay at an evacuation center or lost their homes, we’ve been able to house them very close to the university.”
Western has remained operational throughout the emergency, although nonessential activities were canceled.
“We kept our doors open, offering remote learning options while ensuring the campus was a safe haven,” Dr. Tegzes said. Clinical rotations and clinics continued uninterrupted, and students and faculty volunteered to care for displaced animals.”
Despite moments of anxiety, Dr. Tegzes emphasized the community’s strength.
“People have come together to support one another, and the broader veterinary community has stepped up to help displaced animals,” he said.
A version of this story appears in the March 2025 print issue of JAVMA
AVMF disaster relief, reimbursement grants available
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) has two grant programs that directly assist those affected by wildfires and other emergencies:
- Disaster reimbursement grants repay AVMA member veterinarians for the costs of providing emergency care to animals in disasters, ensuring these animals have access to quality care when they need it.
- Disaster relief grants help pay for basic necessities—such as food, shelter, and clothing—when veterinarians, veterinary team members, and veterinary students suffer personal losses.
The AVMF is also accepting tax-deductible donations, which can be directed toward the disaster grants or other areas of need. To direct a gift to the California wildfires, select “Disaster Relief” from the dropdown selection after indicating the donation amount. Then enter “California wildfires” into the special event box.