Annie Harvilich received a call from her brother Tuesday morning.
He wondered if he could drop off his rabbit, Oreo, and his cat, Winston, with him as he fled his home from the Palisades Fire, which was raging across the valley.
She said yes and thought about other animals that probably needed a home.
Harvilicz operates two veterinary clinics: Animal Wellness Center in Marina del Rey and Laguna Vista Veterinary Center in Harbor City. She posted on Facebook Tuesday morning inviting people to bring their animals to her if they wish.
“I have an old, vacant veterinary hospital in Marina del Rey that I would be happy to house any animal that needs shelter,” she wrote.
The messages and calls haven’t stopped since then. The good news, Hervilitz said, is that there are more messages from volunteers offering to help than from people needing to give up their animals. Still, for now, many people have to surrender their pets to Haavilitz.
“I had a woman drop off her four dogs,” Hervilitz said. “I stayed up all night helping people who needed a home for their animals.”
At the moment, we have about 20 dogs, 20 cats, and 1 rabbit, Oreo.
But Hurvilitz expects that number to increase during the day Wednesday. She has even welcomed several dogs into her home. The fire had grown to more than 2,900 acres by Wednesday morning.
“The majority of people who contact us are multi-pet owners,” she says. “You may be able to bring one dog or cat to a hotel, but you can’t bring two or three.”
Hervilitz said the hospital can also treat pet injuries and has extra food and bedding available for animals in need.
Dr. Havilich runs the Animal Wellness Foundation, which includes two veterinary hospitals. She put out a call on Facebook Tuesday morning inviting people to bring their animals to her if they wish.
(Annie Harvilich)
What saddens Hervilitz the most is the animals that cannot be saved. She spent Tuesday trying to secure a trailer for the woman to take to the Palisades to pick up the nine donkeys she needed to find shelter, but by the time transportation was ready, the woman He had already fled the area and released the donkey. .
“For me, this is the saddest story, because I feel like we betrayed our donkeys,” Hervilitz said.
Anyone who needs help housing an animal should call one of two veterinary clinics, Hervilitz said.
Marina del Rey’s phone number is (310) 450-7387. Harbor City’s phone number is (310) 737-8600.
Source link
