Though the fires have slightly subsided and the immediate evacuation threat has been removed, today was just as trying a day as ever... As people are allowed back into burned areas, more animals who desperately need help are being found — especially the ones who are not so lucky to have been evacuated. We need support to our Fire Fund, so we can give these animals the veterinary care (and much more) that they need.

Escondido Humane Society is calling for SUPPLIES, VOLUNTEERS, DONATIONS.
Director of Volunteer Services: volunteer@escondidohumanesociety.org • 760-888-2270

From Washington Avenue driving from north Escondido:
Driving on Washington Avenue, two blocks (approx) BEFORE East Valley Parkway, turn left on Kaile (residential street)
Drive around the road block • Turn immediately right on Jack’s Creek • Jack’s Creek curves to the left
The first stop sign is Beven Drive
Continue down road to humane society on right

PHOTOS: www.gentlebarn.org/ • www.cacares.stirsite.com/page/page/5143255.htm

Ranches in the Tijuana River Valley (Imperial Beach/Nestor/San Ysidro area of San Diego County) have taken in some 350 evacuated horses. Hundreds more could be displaced by the fires at any time, and we are prepared to take them in as well, but are facing a hay shortage. Truckloads of hay coming from the Imperial Valley have been unable to get through this week, and several area feed stores have burned in the fires. The ranch where I work (Sun Coast Farms at 2550 Monument Rd) is going through 50+ bales a day...there are a dozen other ranches in the area in the same boat.

As of today, our ranch had about enough for another day. Other ranches in the area will be out by morning. A bare minimum of 10# of feed a day is necessary to sustain a horse...so at $14, 130# bail will sparingly feed 13 horses for one day. With 350 evacuees, on top of hundreds of horses that were already in the valley, WE NEED HAY!!!!!

PHOTO: Photo By James Glover II/Staff Photographer. A thoroughbred named Montimiero runs in it's pin as fire burns on the 6,000 acre Rancho Temescal in Piru on October 23, 2007. Minutes later the horse was removed and taken to the main stables away from the fire. www.venturacountystar.com

10/27/07, From YEP6CATS@aol.com — Please read following email from Beth about the expenses her rescue incurred due to fires. Donations of any amount are appreciated and will help them be able to continue saving so many shelter Pit Bulls.

10/26/07, From Beth Gruff, beth@itsthepits.org — We are in desperate need of funds. We have 8 dogs who had to be boarded due to the fire evacuations. We have a monster of a bill to pay for the boarding of 8 dogs, some of which cost more due to meds being given. These dogs were in foster homes and people were ordered out of their homes with no place to go. The cost is $30 a day for 3 of them and $20 a day for the other 5! Plus we had two dogs that needed surgery that ended up costing $1900 for one and $650 for the other! I don't know what we are going to do... Please route to anyone who might be able to make a small donation...

“We want people who have pet ducks and geese, as well as other wildlife centers that need to evacuate, to know that our doors are open to them,” said Jay Holcomb, director of IBRRC. Animal Control agencies who need help caring for avian victims should also contact IBRRC.

If you come across a wild bird or other wild animal who seems to need help, please call one of these numbers, so that a licensed wildlife rehabilitator can care for the animal and then release him or her back to the wild.

UAN’s LifeLine Crisis Relief Grants <www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=167> can help fire victims with expenses for:
Veterinary care to treat injury or illness caused by the fire • Temporary boarding
Transporting the animal to a temporary living situation

UAN will offer qualified individual applicants up to $500 as long as funds are available. Since UAN’s LifeLine Crisis Relief Grant Program is supported solely by private donations, individuals can help keep services flowing to evacuees and their pets in need with donations by donating to UAN's Disaster Relief Fund <https://secure.ga4.org/01/UAN_disaster_relief>

To get eligibility information and apply for a LifeLine Crisis Relief Grant, visit: www.uan.org or call 916-429-2457.

Through its volunteer-driven Emergency Animal Rescue Service <www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=27> (EARS), UAN has provided emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services during some of the nation’s most severe disasters. In addition to those named above, UAN also responded to Hurricanes Bret, Dennis and Floyd in 1999; the Midwest floods in 1993, Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and dozens more.

VOLUNTEERS interested in fostering a pet affected by the California wildfires can register to help at www.petfinder.com

Additionally, people from all over the country can make a tax-deductible donation to help California families with pets affected by the wildfires: www.petfinder.com/foundation/donate.html

• Keep animals fed and hydrated. They can suffer from smoke inhalation too. Cats and smaller dogs usually have sensitive respiratory systems, so they may need medical attention if they are coughing irregularly.


• Always maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered, and your pet may become confused and lost.


• Keep calm if a pet's behavior changes for a bit after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive.

• Visit or contact the local command center or disaster relief center to find out what agency is rescuing animals from your neighborhood. Normally, the county or city animal control agency will be responsible for retrieving stranded animals. Call 888-738-7911 or visit <www.pets911.com> to find phones and locations of animal shelters or agencies nearby.


• If you cannot find your pet with the help of a local animal rescue agency, check the Petfinder.com website: www.petfinder.com/disaster


• The foundation has also set up a 24-hour call center to link evacuees with volunteers willing to provide a temporary home for a displaced pet. You can search for a foster provider on the website or call 866-654-4732.

BEAR WITNESS.  SPEAK.   DEMAND.   ACT.
Action Campaigns  I  Literature  I  Voice For Animals
Nonprofit working in animal protection/cruelty + animal disaster relief campaigns
Brenda Shoss, president • Janet Enoch, vice-president
info@kinshipcircle.org or kinshipcircle@accessus.net
www.KinshipCircle.org • www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html