Los Angeles, CA — Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles’ (spcaLA) Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) deployed to El Dorado County, California to assist with the care of animals displaced by the Caldor Fire.

spcaLA DART caring for displaced animals of the Caldor Fire

Responding to a statewide California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CALOES) request initiated by county officials, the team, consisting of spcaLA Humane Officers, trainers, and animal caregivers, arrived safely Monday night. Most of the team is posted at the El Dorado County Animal Shelter, which is currently housing about 600 animals.

“Our team is glad to be of service to our colleagues,” said Captain Perea, spcaLA Director of Animal Cruelty Investigations. “So much is uncertain during an on-going crisis, but we can certainly share our staffing power and expertise to support this community.”

Captain Perea is the acting Animal Services Emergency Coordinator stationed at the Emergency Operations Center. Perea is overseeing field and shelter activities which includes four animal sheltering locations in El Dorado County and two in Nevada (with two more in reserve) housing more than 1,850 animals. Animals include all manner of pets and livestock.

spcaLA formed DART in 1995 in response to the Northridge Earthquake. Since then, the team has deployed to numerous wildfires including the 2009 Station and the 2018 Woolsey Fires, and Hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike, and Harvey.