Column: Eaton fire disaster response was an outpouring of love to pets
I vividly remember the evening of Jan. 7, 2025. We had closed the shelter early as warnings of life-threatening winds intensified and the Palisades fire began to burn.
In my role as Chief Programs & Services Officer, I stayed behind to ensure the animals were safe and staff made it home. Just after 6 p.m., while on the phone with our Chief Veterinarian, I saw flames erupt in the foothills and felt the weight of what was coming.
As the animal disaster response agency in a fire-prone region, we had faced emergencies before, including the Bobcat fire in 2020. We thought we were prepared, but this fire would test us in new ways.
The shelter reopened that night for emergency intake. Around 10 p.m., a colleague called me: “You’d better come down here,” she said.
A line of people and their pets stretched from our front doors all the way to Central Park. Dogs on leashes, cats in carriers, and other pets waited alongside their families. There was even a horse being walked down Raymond Avenue.
In that moment, I knew this day would change our lives forever. We made a defining decision right then and there: we would help anyone who needed it — human or animal — in the very best way we could.
The first 72 hours were a whirlwind. Hundreds of animals arrived in need of immediate care. Staff offices, our spay/neuter clinic, and training rooms became temporary housing, while adoptable animals were transferred to partner shelters across the state to create space.
Many animals were still trapped behind fire lines, including pets and livestock. With fire-trained search and rescue teams from LA County and national partners, we mobilized quickly to reach them.
Injured animals — pets, livestock, and wildlife — arrived in our ICU, many suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation. Our veterinary team treated each pet as if it were their own, providing lifesaving care, free of charge, for as long as needed.
I couldn’t be prouder of our amazing staff and volunteers who worked through exhaustion and heartbreak. There were tears, sleepless nights, and endless worry, but no one ever said, “I can’t do this.”
During this unprecedented time, our community showed up for us in ways for which we will forever be indebted. People came to the shelter ready to lend a hand wherever was needed. Thousands of calls and emails poured in with offers to adopt or foster pets. Monetary donations enabled us to continue our lifesaving work without pause.
The steady stream of people seeking safe shelter for their pets was replaced with a line of cars filled to the brim with donations of pet food, litter, and water. Local restaurants dropped off food to our staff and volunteers, helping us get through the incredibly long days.
Our work continued long after the flames were extinguished. Pets whose families lost everything in the fire stayed in our care for months, and some remain with us to this day.
We found homes for dozens of fire-impacted animals who had no home to return to, provided veterinary vouchers to families in need of medical support for their pets, and connected displaced residents with pet-friendly housing resources.
A year later, I reflect with pride and gratitude. We saved countless lives and positively impacted thousands of people. We could only accomplish this by working together with our community.
The Eaton fire changed us forever. We emerged stronger, more united, and more committed than ever to helping animals and people in our community.
Together, we continue to rebuild, celebrate the wins, and honor the courage, compassion, and resilience that carried us through that January night.
To learn more and support Pasadena Humane’s Eaton fire response efforts, visit pasadenahumane.org/firematch
Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. pasadenahumane.org