Shelter Dogs Given Up for Being Too High Energy Sent to California Fires
January 14, 2025
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Dogs once abandoned for their high-energy behavior and once considered too challenging for adoption have found a new purpose on the front lines of the Los Angeles wildfires.
The dogs, alongside their human handlers, are working to locate survivors and recover remains amid the burned rubble left by the blazes.
Why It Matters
The Southern California wildfires continue to devastate communities, with numerous homes and business properties reduced to ash. At least 24 people have been killed, and thousands of structures have been destroyed in multiple blazes across Los Angeles County, with over 105,000 people under evacuation orders.
The Palisades fire, raging along the coastal areas of Los Angeles, and the Eaton fire in the San Gabriel Valley have necessitated intensive search operations. Former shelter dogs deemed too challenging for adoption are now part of highly specialized teams deployed to search for survivors and human remains in areas devastated by the fires.
What To Know
Trained by the Ventura-based National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) in Santa Paula, the dogs were rescued from shelters and transformed into elite search-and-rescue canines. What was once viewed as excessive energy or behavioral challenges has become their greatest asset in disaster response work.
Eric Darling of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation poses with Steven, his search-and-rescue canine partner. Dogs like Steven, alongside their human handlers, are working to locate survivors and recover remains in the burned rubble… Eric Darling of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation poses with Steven, his search-and-rescue canine partner. Dogs like Steven, alongside their human handlers, are working to locate survivors and recover remains in the burned rubble left by the Los Angeles wildfires.
SDF / Getty Images
“These incredible dogs have gone from being rescued shelter pets to rescuers, now on the front lines of recovery and relief efforts following these devastating fires,” a spokesperson for the organization told local TV station KTLA.
To date, five SDF teams have been deployed to aid in recovery operations.
What People Are Saying
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said on X (formerly Twitter): “All City departments are in emergency posture and ready to respond to any changes in weather conditions. Firefighting resources are pre-deployed on the ground now in the Palisades Fire area and fire stations throughout the city.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association wrote on Facebook: “Wildfires like those tearing through the Los Angeles area put both animals and people at risk, and the hearts of AVMA members go out to all of those who are affected. The AVMA has many free resources to help animal owners protect pets and livestock, and to prepare veterinary practices and teams to respond quickly in an emergency.”
What’s Next
As fire containment efforts continue, these dog-assisted teams will remain critical to rescue and recovery operations in Los Angeles County as fire officials work to assess the damage and ensure residents’ safety.
More than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel have been deployed to protect the affected communities, Governor Gavin Newsom said.
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