In July 2021, IFAW donated an animal rescue truck and trailer to our partner, North Valley Animal Disaster Group. The trailer is fully outfitted with air conditioning and space to hold animals rescued or evacuated from the wildfires in northern California. The trailer can also serve as a staging areas for animals as well. Recently, the team at NVDAG has been responding to the historic Dixie fire, the largest single wildfire in state records, burning nearly 700,000 acres. IFAW has worked many years with NVDAG and knows this equipment will be used to save many lives now and in the coming years.

Trooper is on the road to recovery after surviving the wildfires.

During an animal search and rescue assignment at a vacant property, a young puppy with burns on his face was found hiding underneath a car. Against all odds, he miraculously survived the wildfires by either seeking shelter under the car or in a nearby creek. His rescuers rushed him to a local veterinary clinic that specializes in animal burns and nicknamed him “Trooper” in honor of his perseverance. Having lost their home, his owners decided to surrender him, as they can no longer support him. The good news – the woman who rescued Trooper will foster him and has plans to potentially train him in search and rescue to help other animals in future disasters!

IFAW responder Mark safely rescues Star and walks her to the trailer. Photo: Julia Cumes/IFAW

Because of safety concerns brought on by the wildfire, the owners of a horse named Star were unable to access their property. They had arranged for their neighbors to care for Star until she could be evacuated. We had the perfect person for the job: IFAW responder Mark Vogel. Thanks to decades of experience working with horses during fire evacuations, Mark was able to calm Star and safely load her into the trailer for transportation. She is currently at a temporary emergency shelter waiting to be safely reunited with her owners.

While searching a neighborhood destroyed by fire, our Senior Program Officer for Disaster Response, Jen Gardner, found an older female dog in need of rescue. Injured and traumatized by the disaster that left her all alone, the dog was initially very afraid. Jen quickly gained her trust and carried her to our rescue vehicle. The team brought her to the IFAW-managed NVADG shelter, where she is receiving care, treatment for her skin irritation, and much affection from the team.

During the search and rescue efforts, our team also rescued a trio of goats who were trapped inside a gate. Escaping with singed fur and smoke inhalation, it’s incredible that these animals survived the intensity of the fire, which had completely melted several cars on the property. We brought the goats to a larger animal shelter, where the animals will be provided with care until they are reunited with their family.  

Our team arrived in Butte County, California and immediately set up a second temporary animal shelter (named Cal Oak) for evacuated and rescued animals. The shelter currently has capacity to house 100 dogs and 100 cats. Shannon Walajtys, Program Director of IFAW’s disaster response team, is supporting critical logistics, planning, and resource management at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) alongside our partner, the North Valley Animal Disaster Group. Four IFAW responders deployed to animal search and rescue teams behind the fire lines, while the remaining responders managed the shelter and began working on plans to reunite rescued pets with their families.

During Saturday’s search and rescue mission, we received a call from a concerned owner who became separated from her dog, Pippa, during the fire. Once it was deemed safe to enter the fire zone, our team searched through the rubble and located Pippa and another missing dog. We brought them to a temporary emergency shelter where they will soon be reunited with their family.

As the team was leaving the fire grounds on Saturday, two firefighters waved our vehicle to stop. The firefighters had rescued four small kittens in need of emergency veterinary care. Our team thanked them and took the kittens straight away to a local vet for assessment and treatment.