At the urgent request of Butte County Animal Control (BCAC), we deployed our disaster response team to provide essential support in response to the Park Fire in Northern California. Currently, our team of specially trained disaster response personnel is on the ground in Oroville, California, assisting animal control, alongside the North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG), with search and rescue efforts and emergency sheltering of owned pets displaced by the fires. To date, we have assisted BCAC and NVADG with the emergency sheltering and care of over 120 animals. We are also providing disaster response subject matter expertise in the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and emergency sheltering leadership.

“Right now, the ASPCA’s priority is to provide critical planning and shelter support and an assessment of needs for Butte County Animal Control as they work around the clock in aid of residents and their pets impacted by this catastrophic wildfire,” said Joy Ollinger, Manager of Disaster Response for the ASPCA National Field Response Team. “When disaster strikes, it is essential that impacted pet owners have resources and support to keep the beloved animals in their lives safe. Working in collaboration with local animal welfare agencies helps ensure displaced pets receive the care they need and can be reunited with their families as soon as possible.”

California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine is also assisting with this response by providing veterinary services at both the small and large animal shelters in Butte County.

The Park Fire is already one of the largest wildfires in California history, spreading over nearly 393,000 acres in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama Counties. The fire, which started on July 24, has blazed across areas of Northern California greater than the size of the city of Los Angeles. We remain in close contact with Butte County emergency management agencies as this fire continues to spread and will continue to provide additional support as needed.