Column: Network of animal shelter partners crucial during disasters
Last week was a difficult one for me. It still feels hard to believe that a full year has passed since the Eaton fire tore through our community, leaving devastation in its wake.
On January 7, our staff and volunteers gathered to mark the one-year anniversary with a Day of Reflection. Being in that room, surrounded by people I had the privilege of working alongside during one of the most challenging moments in our organization’s history, was deeply meaningful.
We showed up for our community in extraordinary ways. Just as importantly, we showed up for one another. Our team jumped in wherever help was needed, leaned on each other, and strengthened our connections through our shared commitment to animals and the people who love them.
Earlier that same day, we had the opportunity to repay a small part of a much larger debt — one that was owed to San Diego Humane Society, a partner that played a critical role in our fire response. To understand why that moment mattered, it helps to return to the evening of January 7, 2025.
The Eaton fire ignited in the hills above Altadena, and fueled by powerful winds, spread rapidly. By about 10 p.m., a line had formed outside our shelter, stretching down the block. Pet owners waited with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and birds as our staff worked quickly and carefully to bring each animal to safety.
In the first 24 hours, we took in more than 300 pets, exotics, and livestock for emergency boarding. Over the course of the fire, that number grew to nearly 600, in addition to the hundreds of injured and lost animals coming in from throughout the burn zone and our animal control service area.
Our dog kennels were nearly full even before the fire. When I arrived at the shelter that first night, it was immediately clear that we would need more kennel space.
I leaned into the relationships we had built with animal welfare partners across the state. One of the most effective ways to make room was to transfer out adoptable pets already in our care. Our partner shelters mobilized, and animal transport vans arrived within hours and continued at a steady pace for the days to come.
Within days, every adoptable pet in our care prior to the fire had been transferred to another organization. That extraordinary generosity made it possible for us to take in every animal in need. We simply could not have done what we did without our partners.
San Diego Humane Society was among those who showed up in a significant way, transferring more than 50 pets and sending up their Emergency Response Team and medical and support staff to assist.
So, when we learned that their Humane Officers had rescued 40 dogs from a single apartment in extremely unsanitary conditions, we reached out to offer help. With more than 700 dogs already in their care, we knew their resources were stretched to the limit even before the large-scale intake.
On January 7, 2026, exactly one year after the Eaton fire, a San Diego Humane Society transport van once again pulled into our small brick parking lot on Raymond Avenue. This time, instead of picking up dogs, they were dropping them off.
Nine medium- and large-breed dogs were welcomed by staff and volunteers. After receiving health exams, the dogs were cleared for adoption. All but two have already found new homes.
One year ago, our partners made it possible for us to respond to an unprecedented crisis. Last week, we were grateful for the chance to return that support in a small but meaningful way.
In animal welfare, collaboration is essential. Moments like this remind us that when organizations work together, we are better prepared for whatever comes next.
Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. pasadenahumane.org