Carmel Magazine

126 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 As of early October, the SPCA con- tinued to accommodate 30 pets for owners who had lost their homes or sustained too much property damage to safely house their animals. Com- munity members pay nothing for fire- related evacuation assistance, sheltering services or veterinary care provided by the nonprofit. "All of that is completely made pos- sible by our donors, who were over- whelmingly generous during these fires. Whatever we asked for, whether it was monetary donations or pet food or hay or halters, the community responded," says Brookhouser. Animal welfare organizations from San Diego, Butte County and elsewhere also assist- ed local response teams. That suppor t was invaluable as three major fires burned in Monterey County, and flames scorched other California destinations. "The scale was probably the biggest chal- lenge. We took in over 1,400 animals, and resources were spread so thin. Past fires have been large, but they happened in more con- tained areas and impacted a smaller portion of the community," says Brookhouser. "They say it takes a village, but this response definitely took the whole state and beyond." As SPCA representatives out- line their 2021 goals, they encour- age Monterey County households to update emergency kits and dis- aster response plans. Citizens can also help the organization prepare for future incidents by making a financial donation. "Donations make a big difference, not only to cover the expenses of fires like these, but also to plan for the future. With such big burn scars, there are concerns about mudslides and flooding," says Brookhouser. "We live in a beautiful place, but we're prone to dis- asters like wildfires and ear thquakes. We want to continue to be prepared for whatever comes our way." To learn more about the SPCA for Monterey County, or to support the organization's rescue and response work, please visit www.spcamc.org. The Monterey County Fair and Event Center opened up to the SPCA after their own location had to be evacuated. Horses, chickens, dogs and more were separated and cared for by staff and volunteers. Gratitude for the firefighters who risked their lives to save local homes and animals is immense. Photos: Courtesy of SPCA Monterey County

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