Pets are family too, and that fact is on dramatic and heartwarming display at Haven Humane’s temporary pet evacuation center at the Shasta Gateway mall in Anderson.
Under the direction of Cyanna Howden, Haven Humane’s chief medical officer, a cluster of four vacant stores in the mall have been sheltering small animals (primarily dogs and cats) that were dropped off by owners who had to evacuate in advance of the devastating Carr Fire.
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Cyanna Howden with just a sliver of the donations that have poured in. Photo by Jon Lewis.
At its peak, the temporary shelter was home to 623 animals. As of Tuesday evening, there were 347 still to be reclaimed. The pets have been receiving food, water, exercise, care, support, attention and love on a round-the-clock basis.
Credit and thanks go to the dedicated work of Humane’s 52-member staff, all of whom have been working 12-hour shifts since the fire broke out, volunteers with the Butte County-based North Valley Animal Disaster Group and north state residents who signed up for four-hour shifts to help with feeding, cleaning, dog walking, organizing supplies and other tasks as needed.
Howden, known simply as “Dr. H” to the small army of volunteers, said Haven Humane began receiving evacuee pets on Thursday, July 26, when the Carr Fire began its destructive assault on Redding proper.
A Haven staffer checks on a pair of huskies patiently waiting to go home. Photo by Jon Lewis.
“By Friday, it was evident we couldn’t take them all so we started looking elsewhere” to house them, Howden said. A friend of a friend put Howden in touch with owners of the Shasta Gateway mall, who instantly offered the use of three empty retail spaces. “They were awesome,” Howden said, the relief and gratitude still evident in her voice some five days later. “Within two days we had 1,800 square feet.”
Cats were housed in crates and carriers in the air-conditioned storefront while the dogs were bedded down in pens in the rooms without air conditioning. Large circulation fans were used to keep the buildings comfortable and dogs were treated to regular dips in shaded kiddie pools behind the buildings.
This little guy can’t wait to be reunited with his family. Photo by Jon Lewis.
Haven Humane’s permanent shelter was already at capacity before the Carr Fire and as the fire progressed, Howden said it became clear that the shelter needed to create space for the strays that continued to come in. And, sadly, “some of these dogs are not going to have a home to go home to,” Howden said, and they will have to return to the shelter for the time being.
Howden said animal rescue groups throughout the West Coast reached out to Haven and agreed to take in many of the shelter’s adoptable pets, which has helped to create more room.
Contrary to an inaccurate and hurtful rumor making the rounds on social media, Haven is not euthanizing animals to make room at the shelter. Haven will continue its mission as a no-kill shelter, Howden emphasized.
A firefighter found this small cat next to a home (unknown location at this time) destroyed by the Carr Fire. “Small Fry” is recovering nicely from severe burns. Haven Humane is trying to determine if she has a family and will do its best to reunite her.
“We hold the lives of these evacuated animals in the highest regard. We fight daily to ensure that every animal that enters our doors is taken care of 365 days a year, so know that’s true,” Howden said in an emotional vide posted to the shelter’s Facebook page (Watch it here: www.facebook.com/HavenHumaneSociety/videos/10156496047429643)
Photo by Jon Lewis.
Residents looking for missing pets are encouraged to visit Haven Humane at 7449 Eastside Road, Building B, between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Haven can be contacted at (530) 241-1653. The city of Redding animal regulations department, which is operated on a contract with Haven, can be reached at (530) 241-2550.
No stray animals are being kept at the Shasta Gateway temporary shelter.
For more information, visit www.havenhumane.org or visit Haven’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HavenHumaneSociety/
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