Missing Pets and Evacuated Animal Shelters As Oregon Wildfires Continue
Sanctuaries race to evacuate thousands of animals, and pet owners urged to take cautionary measures, as wildfires continue to affect Oregon.
A morning view from Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary during the wildfires. Credit: Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary/Facebook
Animal sanctuaries, pet owners, and veterinarian services are busy battling the ongoing effects of the wildfires in Oregon.
Pigs, goats, and donkeys are among the residents at a 54-acre farm refuge in Scio who were ready to evacuate after being placed on a Level 1 evacuation warning.
The Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary is home to over 350 animals, most of whom have been rescued from the animal agriculture industry. Their rescues include 130 pigs, 75 chickens, 13 horses, 12 cows, ducks, turkeys, roosters, bunnies, two donkeys, and a bison.
Incredibly, after a plea for help on social media, almost all of their animals were given potential temporary homes if the sanctuary needed to be evacuated. Since then, their evacuation level has thankfully been downgraded, but they are ready to act if and when they need to.
However, another sanctuary in the area has already had to fully evacuate. Green Acres Farm Sanctuary in Silverton managed to evacuate all of its 200-plus animal residents, sending them to temporary homes in nearby sanctuaries, or taken in by individual volunteers. The sanctuary, which is home to abused, abandoned and unwanted farm animals, looks after chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, horses, turkeys, and a donkey.
Meanwhile, veterinary practises and animal shelters have taken to social media to help reunite lost animals who have been separated from their owners during evacuations.
Almost a dozen lost cats have been taken in by The Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center, who have posted pictures of their rescued cats on their Facebook page. Many of the felines are pictured with injuries and burns, but the vets are hopeful that they will be reunited with their owners soon.
Credit: Facebook/Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center
Veterinarians are also urging pet owners to remember that animals are susceptible and can suffer from the dangerous smoky air too. Owners near wildfires should keep animals indoors, and look out for “breathing difficulties, red eyes or low energy in their animals”, a vet told local press.
If you are in a position to help, please visit Green Acres Farm Sanctuary or The Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary to find out how to volunteer or to make a donation to their work.
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