ASPCA Assists Impacted Communities in Response to Wildfires in Los Angeles

January 14, 2025

ASPCA responder with german shepherd

If you'd like to support the ASPCA during this time, please consider making a lifesaving donation at www.aspca.org/lawildfire

January 17, 2025

UPDATE: Our field response team in Southern California continues to support Pasadena Humane and LA County with field operations and disaster management guidance. We are also working to support pet supply distribution and other critical efforts including reuniting people with displaced pets.

For resources regarding lost/found pets in the affected areas, please use and share this flyer.

Black cat

Tan dog

people feeding goats

Responders feeding chickens

Burnt area

Responder petting mini donkeys

January 15, 2025

UPDATE: As our response in Southern California is ongoing, our field responders are working on dozens of service requests daily, including reuniting several cats and chickens with their owners, helping with the removal of animals (including one gecko), providing food and supplies to those in need, and setting up feeding stations for community cats in varied locations.

We will provide additional updates from the field as this critical work continues this week.

responders with rescued a rescued beard dragon (left) and rescued chicken (right)

January 14, 2025

UPDATE: As disaster response continues to the devastating wildfires burning across Southern California, we have announced a $5 million California Wildfire Response & Preparedness Fund to provide critical funding to animal welfare organizations responding to animal needs due to the wildfires. Funding is also available to prepare for and build capacity to defend against future fires and other disasters.

“These wildfires are devastating to people and animals, and we are collaborating with our partners in California to provide protections for the health and safety of owned and shelter animals, but the wreckage is vast and the rebuild will require tremendous resources and effort,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA National Field Response. “Our $5 million relief fund will provide animal welfare organizations in the area critical resources to continue protecting and supporting animals in their communities and address longer-term impacts on their organizations, as well as help develop resources and infrastructures to protect from future disasters.”

The funds can be applied to:

  • Disaster response costs incurred in supporting owned and shelter animals by animal welfare organizations currently supporting disaster response in Los Angeles. These include costs related to field operations, emergency sheltering or medical care for impacted animals, animal evacuation and relocation, or animal supply and food distribution.
  • Capacity-building for disaster preparedness to help communities in California protect and support animals in future fires and other disasters.

Applications may be submitted now through February 17, for disaster response funding and through June 30 for capacity-building funding. For more information about the eligibility requirements and to apply, please visit ASPCApro.org/wildfiregrants.

The ASPCA’s California Wildfire Response & Preparedness Fund will also provide funding for disaster recovery costs for shelters with direct fire damage and, as needs become more apparent, longer-term operating support for key organizations in severely impacted communities that experience significant fundraising shortfalls and/or declines in adoptions.

damage from the fires

two goats and a pig

In addition to the grant funding, our disaster response team is currently still on the ground, at the request of Pasadena Humane, providing animal search and rescue, subject matter expertise, operational assistance and critical support for impacted communities. The ASPCA’s Los Angeles-based Community Medicine team is providing veterinary support to help local shelters prepare animals for adoption, foster, and relocation by assisting with vaccinations, health certifications and spay/neuter. We are also arranging for the safe transport of homeless animals in Los Angeles to partner shelters out of the disaster zone to make room for other animals in need.

During this time, we are continuing to collaborate with animal welfare organizations and emergency management agencies across the impacted areas to determine where it can support the most critical needs.


January 10, 2025

In response to the devastating wildfires burning across Southern California, the ASPCA Disaster Response team is currently on the ground, at the request of Pasadena Humane, to provide subject matter expertise and critical support for impacted communities. In addition, we are ensuring the safety of our own staff based in Southern California, including those who oversee the ASPCA Kitten Foster Program in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, more than 30 cats and kittens in the care of the ASPCA near the disaster zone were relocated as a precautionary measure and are now safely in foster care in currently unaffected areas.

ASPCA responder with supplies

"Wildfires are incredibly destructive, and the current series of unprecedented fires burning throughout Los Angeles are no exception, severely impacting people and their pets," said Susan Anderson, director of ASPCA Disaster Response. "The ASPCA is dedicated to collaborating closely with our partners in California, including organizations directly affected by the fires and agencies outside the disaster zone supporting our relief efforts, to safeguard the health and safety of displaced pets and shelter animals."

ASPCA Responder holding a cat

rescued cat eating wet food

We are continuing to communicate with animal welfare organizations and emergency management agencies across the impacted areas to assess where we can continue to best support the most critical needs. We are grateful to our partners outside of the disaster zone, including the San Diego Department of Animal Services and the San Diego Humane Society, for their assistance with these urgent response efforts.

While our response in California continues, you can find lifesaving tips for pet owners who may be preparing to potentially evacuate from their homes at aspca.org/disasterprep. For those in need of immediate assistance with an animal, please contact the local agency within your community that handles animal disaster response, which may be your emergency management agency, law enforcement, animal services or local animal shelter.

For those interested in supporting animal response efforts, consider donating to or volunteering with one of the many local animal welfare organizations in Southern California – including Pasadena Humane – that are working tirelessly to keep California’s animals and pet owners safe. Some animal welfare organizations outside of the disaster zone, such as San Diego Humane Society, are also taking in displaced homeless animals and may be looking for adopters and foster caregivers. You can directly support the ASPCA’s lifesaving efforts by visiting aspca.org/lawildfire.