Nearly 6 months after the LA fires, some very good boys still need homes | Opinion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Four dogs rescued from LA shelter during wildfires still await adoption in 2025.
- Fire displaced thousands of California pets, prompting a cross-state rescue effort.
- Springdale Pet Ranch offers no-fee adoptions and support for post-fire rescues.
Meet Blaze, Niko, Llama and Mo — four big, healthy boys who are lucky to be alive in the aftermath of the deadly Los Angeles wildfires.
They were among the thousands of animals evacuated last January during what would become the most destructive firestorm in LA County history.
They are also a reminder of why fire prevention is so important in California, especially in this era of year-round fire seasons — a time when we should be spending more on fire prevention efforts, rather than less.
These four dogs were not on the front lines. Rather, they were already at a shelter in LA and were due to be euthanized to make space for an influx of pets directly affected by the wildfires.
They would have been killed if not for two Central Coast residents who pulled them out of the shelter just in time.
“Having to euthanize dogs who would otherwise have gotten homes was really, really sad,” said Cheryl Miller, a co-owner of Springdale Pet Ranch in San Luis Obispo.
She teamed up with Marcy Janes, who runs Gone to the Dogs rescue out of Morro Bay, to make the trek to the South LA shelter soon after the fires broke out.
The two deliberately chose bigger dogs that are typically harder to place.
“I am a firm believer in the underdog,” Janes said.
Nationwide rescue effort
At the time of the fires, there were dozens of feel-good stories about animals rescues — a welcome break from the grim news coming out of the region. Animal welfare organizations around California and beyond stepped up to help.
The Sacramento SPCA took in several animals from the Pasadena Humane Society to free up space for pets directly affected by the fires. It was badly needed: The Pasadena shelter wound up caring for more than 600 animals displaced by fires.
Volunteers with the Merced SPCA fostered 30 cats orphaned by the fires, putting their adoptions on hold to give their owners a chance to claim them.
Best Friends Animal Society arranged to have 42 large dogs from a Riverside shelter flown to New York City. Yes, New York City.
In San Luis Obispo, Woods Humane Society took in smaller dogs, while Miller offered to foster as many as 15 dogs at Springdale Pet Ranch, which offers boarding, daycare and training.
“I reached out to Marcy and said, “I want to help. It’s our slow season. I’m like, we can take 15 of them.’”
In the end, she took eight dogs. Of those, four were adopted — including one Miller decided to keep.
She expected all the dogs to be adopted within a month or two.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, Blaze, Niko, Llama and Mo are still waiting for their adoption day. All four know basic commands. They have been through a five-day training course to help them transition from life in a shelter to a family home, plus they get daily “manners” refreshers and are taken on frequent outings for socialization.
Springdale also is offering free training in case any post-adoption issues arise. And there is no adoption fee.
Here’s how Miller describes the dogs:
Llama: “A big, beautiful, purebred German shepherd, about 6 years old. Just needs a couch and somebody to talk to.”
Mo: “German shepherd mix. Super friendly, super strong. Probably needs a single-dog-home. Gorgeous. Loves to go hiking, rides in the car. Amazing.”
Blaze: “Pure white, shepherd-husky mix, most likely 3. He’s gotten a little chunky monkey since he’s been here. Beautiful dog. Friendly. Can go to the beach, goes to wineries, goes to breweries. Loves children. Lives with his pal, Niko.”
Niko: “Pure husky, 2 years old. Doesn’t even know he’s a husky. Doesn’t do the whole husky talk thing. Doesn’t howl, loves kids.”
How to help
The rehoming of animals is, of course, just a small part of a recovery effort that will take years.
The LA fires killed at least 30 people, blackened 50,000 acres and destroyed 18,000 houses and other buildings. There is no precise count, but thousands of people remain in “housing limbo.”
Yet for those of us living outside the fire zones, it’s easy to forget.
Nearly six months later, the LA fires have largely faded from the headlines. Attention has shifted to whether or not President Donald Trump will release $40 billion in aid requested by Gov. Gavin Newsom. And even that aid will not be enough. The total economic loss has been estimated at over $250 billion.
There are many organizations and individuals who continue to plug away, helping with recovery efforts — and there are many opportunities to give. Here are a few groups accepting donations for residents displaced by the fires:
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
- Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
- California Community Foundation
And if you happen to be a dog person — or are thinking of becoming one — and would like to help out by fostering or adopting a pet displaced by the fires, four brilliant dogs are waiting for you in San Luis Obispo.
It’s a way to assist in the recovery effort, and even more importantly, a way to gain a loving companion.
For more information about Blaze, Niko, Llama and Mo, contact Springdale Pet Ranch, 805-549-5227 or go to gonetothedogsrescue.org
