PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In the wake of the California wildfires, an animal rescue in Los Angeles is asking its partner rescues on the East Coast to help place approximately 60 medium- to large-sized dogs in their respective adoption systems.
Best Friends Animal Society is clearing out its L.A. shelter to make room for animals displaced by the wildfires that have yet to be reunited with their owners. The Providence Animal Center (PAC) in Media is spearheading the effort on this end.
The dogs, which were already homeless before the fires, are arriving in Newark, Delaware, courtesy of partner group Wings of Rescue.
“There's 23 of them coming here and once they arrive in the state of Pennsylvania, they will need to be quarantined for two weeks,” said PAC CEO Jo-Ann Zoll. State law requires the quarantine period.
“Animal transports during emergencies are done to alleviate the animals that are already in the shelter system and [they provide] more bandwidth for the shelters themselves,” said Fraily Rodriguez, director of lifesaving programs for Best Friends.
Animals that have been separated from their owners during the wildfires are not taken out of the area, so they can hopefully be reunited in the near future.
PAC seeks people who can foster dogs already in their shelter, to make room for the influx of new animals. Anyone interested in becoming a foster can apply at their website.