Local nonprofits moving hundreds of shelter pets from Los Angeles to Utah
Jan 10, 2025, 1:35 PM
Smoke lingers over a neighborhood devastated by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/John Locher)
SALT LAKE CITY — In the wake of the devastating wildfires burning around Los Angeles, some nonprofits have teamed up in an effort to move hundreds of shelter pets from California to Utah.
“It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking,” said Beth Sanders, a dog team coordinator with the Community Animal Welfare Society.
Sanders told KSL NewsRadio they and several other groups are helping the Best Friends Animal Society as it works to transport, “at least several hundred,” shelter pets near the fires to the Beehive State, Sanders said.
Related: Dozens of Utah firefighters off to help with deadly California wildfires
Sanders said CAWS will take a couple dozen animals and move them into foster homes. She also said most of the animals would end up in foster homes, which is a good thing.
“This will be an incredible upgrade for these animals.”
Sanders said this not only clears up some much-needed space in the shelters near the wildfires, but foster homes give these animals better living conditions and increase the chances they’ll get adopted.
However, Sanders said this highlights their biggest need at CAWS: people willing to foster pets.
“No matter how many animals we pull and bring up to Utah, there’s going to be thousands more that still need help,” Sanders said.
Anyone interested in fostering a pet can reach out to CAWS or the Best Friends Animal Society.
