Amidst the raging Palisades fire, many folks in Los Angeles find themselves in a dire predicament—evacuating their homes with their beloved pets in tow.
The situation took a poignant turn when Annie Harvilicz, a kind-hearted resident, received an urgent call from her brother early Tuesday morning. In a state of panic, he sought refuge for his furry companions—a rabbit named Oreo and a cat called Winston—as he hurriedly escaped the blaze threatening his hillside home.
Without hesitation, Annie agreed to take them in, realizing the growing need for safe havens for many other displaced animals. She thought about all the other creatures that might be in desperate need of shelter as fires encroached upon residential areas.
Annie is the compassionate owner of two veterinary centers—the Animal Wellness Centers in Marina del Rey and the Laguna Vista Veterinary Center in Harbor City. Quick to act, she turned to social media, posting on Facebook to let people know they could bring their pets to her facilities if they had no other options.
“I have an unused veterinary hospital in Marina del Rey,” she wrote, reaching out to the community. “I’m happy to house any evacuated animals.”
Her plea struck a chord, and soon her message board was buzzing with responses. Encouragingly, most messages came from volunteers eager to assist rather than pet owners unable to care for their animals. Nevertheless, a good number had no choice but to temporarily leave their pets in Annie’s care.
“A woman came in with four dogs,” Annie remarked, recounting a tiring yet rewarding night spent coordinating efforts to aid distressed pet owners. By now, the tally at her facilities is around 20 dogs, 20 cats, alongside Oreo the rabbit.
Annie anticipates the number to increase as the fire continues to spread, leaving more people in its wake. So committed to her cause, she even brought some dogs into her own home. As of Wednesday morning, the wildfire had expanded to over 2,900 acres.
“Most people who reach out have multiple pets,” she explained. “They might manage to bring one dog or cat to a hotel, but not more than that.” Her hospitals not only provide shelter but are also equipped to treat animals with injuries and supply them with extra food and bedding.
Amidst moments of triumph, there have been tales of heartache that linger with Annie. One particular story involved a group of nine donkeys that a worried owner needed to relocate.
Despite mustering all efforts to get a trailer ready for transport, circumstances thwarted their mission—by the time everything was in place, the donkeys’ owner had fled, leaving the animals to fate.
“It’s heartbreaking because we couldn’t do anything to save those donkeys,” Annie expressed with a heavy heart, reflecting on the unfortunate outcome.
For pet owners still seeking help, Annie encourages them to reach out to her veterinary centers, ready to offer shelter to any animals in need. The Marina del Rey center can be reached at (310) 450-7387, while the Harbor City location is available at (310) 737-8600. Each call helps pave the way for more animal survival stories amidst these challenging times.
If you’re experiencing the same anxieties as many in Los Angeles, or if you have any memories or advice to share about evacuating with pets, we’d love to hear from you. Please post your thoughts in the comments.
