OC Animal Care has sent 69 pets to rescue agencies in northern California to make room for an influx of more than 350 animals the shelter received in recent days, many as a direct result of Tropical Storm Hilary, officials said.
Injured and displaced pets continue to arrive at the OC Animal Care shelter because of storm-related flooding and property damages, shelter officials said, assuring people that the animals sent to northern California were only those who had been housed at the OCAC shelter before the storm.
The animals that came in as a result of the storm are from OC Animal Care’s 14 contract cities or the unincorporated county areas, and more than 300 of them appear to be strays.
“The shelter is designed to accommodate temporary housing for animals during both man-made and natural disasters. During this weather event, animals arrived with a range of needs, spanning from generally healthy to needing critical medical attention,” Jackie Tran, public information officer at OC Animal Care, said. “For example, Nora, a 1-year-old Border Collie, was hit by a car. Once she arrived at OC Animal Care, the clinic team treated her for a large open wound on her leg. She is still being closely monitored and the team is keeping her comfortable as she recovers.”
Tran said the shelter works with hundreds of sister shelters and rescue agencies throughout the year. Staff provided these shelters with photos, videos, and medical and behavioral information on a variety of pets for them to choose from.
The pets were transported by flight from Hollywood Burbank Airport to rescue agencies around the San Francisco, Monterey, Palo Alto and Sacramento areas, among others.
Good Flights, a program of Greater Good Charities, which specializes in transportation for pets, handled the flights. The Noble Friends Foundation for OC Animal Care donated kennels for their trip.
OC Animal Care’s veterinary team ensured all pets were medically cleared, officials said.
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