Californians Scrambled To Evacuate Dogs, Cats, Horses, Pigs As LA Flames Closed In

The Pasadena Humane Society took in 250 pets in the first day after the fires started.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Arianna Buturovic kept a wary eye on distant smoke from the rescue shelter she runs outside Los Angeles for dogs at risk of being euthanized. Within hours, nearby mountains were ablaze and fire began encircling her.

“I stuffed 15 dogs in a black Prius and two cats,” Buturovic said.

But she still had nine more dogs and a pig to evacuate, so flagged down some 18-year-olds with a truck who agreed to take them to a shelter. She couldn’t bring two ponies with her, but she left the corral open so they could escape if needed.

“That’s how we evacuated almost 30 animals,” she said. “It was crazy.”

Buturovic is one of many animal owners in Los Angeles who scrambled to get themselves and their beloved companions out of the way of fast-moving wildfires that killed 11 people and burned more than 12,000 homes and other structures this week. It has overwhelmed shelters, whose leaders have implored people, if they’re able, to find friends or family to foster their pets.