On Saturday afternoon, two local nonprofits partnered to transport 84 pets from the Burbank Airport to safety in the wake of Southern California’s devastating wildfires.
Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue put 58 cats and 26 dogs on an emergency rescue flight, including pets pulled from the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter in Lancaster.
The pets departed just after 1 p.m. and headed to Kanab, Utah, where Best Friends said it operates the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country.
“Pets often run away or become separated from their owners during hasty evacuations during disasters such as the Palisades and Eaton fires,” the organization said in a release. “It is then the job of first responders and shelter workers to find the lost pet and protect it until it can be reunited with its owner.”
Organizers said the rescue was aimed at easing overcrowding in wildfire-affected shelters and freeing up space and resources.
A local nonprofit is evacuating 84 pets to safety on Wing of Rescue flights at the Burbank Airport in the wake of Southern California’s devastating wildfires. January. 2025. (Best Friends) A local nonprofit is keeping 84 pets safe on Wing of Rescue flights at the Burbank Airport in the wake of the devastating Southern California wildfires. January. 2025. (Best Friends) A local nonprofit is keeping 84 pets safe on Wing of Rescue flights at the Burbank Airport in the wake of the devastating Southern California wildfires. January. 2025. (Best Friends)
Wing of Rescue transported the pets in a twin-engine turboprop plane, which organizers say is a pressurized, temperature-controlled plane.
“All pets are medically cleared to travel and several safeguards have been built in to avoid simply transporting lost pets,” the organizers reassured.
A second flight from Burbank Airport will take place on Sunday, but this time it will head to Seattle, Washington.
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