Animal shelter comes through in recent fire crisis





Responding to June Slayton, who took issue with the way the Agoura Shelter and L.A. County Animal Control Center handled the Malibu fire, I submit the following:

The day the fire started, LACACC employees and volunteers worked around the clock and were available to help with intakes.

The shelter took in more than 36 animals from a boarding kennel in Malibu that had to evacuate. The shelter’s large outdoor pens were used to house, feed and exercise these dogs for several days. At night they were moved into the shelter’s clinic or into kennels. Twelve animals brought in by families who evacuated were also given safe haven.

The Agoura shelter became the primary location for the evacuation and housing of displaced animals. The shelter manager and employees were in constant radio and telephone contact with the fire department and used every means at their disposal to bring animals to safety.

The fire department is in charge of fire incidents, and LACACC staff’s role is to help evacuate animals in areas that the fire department determines to be safe for entry. Sadly, some animals are at times in the direct path of the fire, making it unsafe for animal control personnel to help. While we have all been affected by the tragic loss of these animals, the combined efforts of both the fire department and LACACC staff resulted in many animals saved.

We do appreciate the help offered by Ms. Slayton for use of her land and can appreciate the frustration involved when unable to reach a person by phone. Many citizens stopped by the shelter to offer assistance realizing the phone system was taxed with the magnitude of this disaster. Please be assured, housing for large animals was not a problem. Horses and livestock were evacuated to Pierce College where trained equestrian and L.A. County volunteers were deployed to care for the animals.

I encourage anyone who wishes to help to take steps to
become a volunteer. Interested parties need only fill out an application and
take a halfday training class to become a volunteer. During the fires,
volunteers performed a vital role in caring for the animals, allowing staff to
concentrate on the safe evacuation of animals. However, the need for volunteers
is not confined to times of disaster, and we welcome help year-round.
Robin Kahrs Agoura Animal Shelter




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