When Robert and Ellen Greenhut purchased their home on Glenhaven Drive in the Pacific Palisades in 2006, it came with a koi pond in the front and back, complete with a few fish. 

Ellen became invested in caring for the colorful school and added more over the years. 

“The koi pond was a fixture,” says Caryn Greenhut, Robert and Ellen’s daughter. “Our kids loved them. The fish would suck on their fingers and get so excited at feeding time. And our friends and their kids always wanted to come over. My mom counted the koi every morning. They were popular and well-known in the Palisades.”

“An Unfathomable Tragedy”

Caryn and her family, who grew up in New York City, have lived through many fires in Los Angeles over the last 27 years when they initially moved to California. But never anything like the recent Palisades Fire. After igniting on January 7, it burned nearly 25,000 acres, destroyed 6,837 structures, and damaged 1,017, according to Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Luis Luna, an animal control officer and part of LA Animal Services’ Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART), is dedicated to rescuing animals stuck in extreme situations. 

“Never in a million years could I have believed a fire to take out the Pacific Palisades and Pacific Coast Highway up to Carbon Canyon,” Caryn says. “Never. It is an unfathomable, unthinkable tragedy.”

While her parents had no other pets, Caryn and her extended family evacuated with seven dogs.

Days later, Caryn contacted a certified emergency responder helping rescue animals in the area, but because the property was marked as unsafe, the responder was unable to access the pond and advised Caryn to call LA Animal Services.

To The Rescue

“I didn’t think Animal Services would have the time or bandwidth to deal with our fish with everything else going on but boy, was I wrong,” says Caryn. “They were incredibly compassionate and caring and were there within 24 hours.”

What’s more, says Caryn, Animal Services found 29 fish alive.

“Animal Services communicated with me every step of the way,” she says. “They also assembled a team of people to help evacuate the fish. It was incredible. We were so grateful for the support.”

Representatives from multiple California municipalities confer at LA Animal Services before dispersing to respond to animal search and rescue calls.

The LA Animal Services and ASPCA teams connected with John Farrell, president of Fish Art Corp., pond and aquarium ecosystems experts who are a sought-after resource right now, as many Angelenos have koi ponds. (John lost his own home in the Palisades the night of the fire.) All 29 koi were safely removed and relocated to a temporary pond. 

“Our volunteer work saved countless koi, aquarium fish and even some cats,” John says. “The time-consuming volunteer work to help stranded animals and associated out-of-pocket expenses, as well as losing almost everything I own, is simultaneously rewarding and devastating.”

Luis Luna, center, with LA Animal Services’ Sergio De Loen, animal care technician, left, and John Farrell, president of Fish Art Corp., managed the safe rescue and removal of the koi. 

“Many other agencies have come together to help the animals affected by the fires in LA,” says Annette Ramirez, Interim General Manager for LA Animal Services. “Part of the planning and group effort to make this endeavor work included municipalities from the City of Riverside, Mission Viejo, Sonoma County, and City and County San Bernardino.”

Representatives from multiple California municipal and animal welfare agencies collaborated to help animals and people impacted by the recent wildfires.

A Lifetime of Memories

Caryn, her then-husband and two daughters lived in her parents’ Glenhaven home before her parents eventually retired there.

“Mom’s dream was to be able to look at the ocean all the time, and this house offered just that; it was almost dreamy,” says Caryn, a psychotherapist. “We celebrated so many milestones and holidays and family events there. And the koi. It was magical.”

Robert and Ellen’s koi pond prior to the fires. Courtesy photo. 

“A Miracle”

Heaps of ash and rubble are all that’s left of Robert and Ellen’s home, and everything in it.

“Mom was the keeper of our family history, artifacts, and heirlooms, now gone,” says Caryn. “Our life has been turned upside down.”

But the fish, she says, are a miracle — a symbol of life and strength.

“They’re something for my parents to continue to have and watch and love. They’ve been the only thing people in our community have been able to smile about these past few weeks. To see that life amid the rubble was something else. A true reminder of hope for the future.” 

The ASPCA, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at the request of LA Animal Services and LA County, continues to provide support with field operations and disaster management guidance, as well as photography and video documentation. The ASPCA is also working to support pet supply distribution and other critical efforts including reuniting people with displaced pets. The ASPCA recently 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.