The devastation from the California wildfires in January extended beyond human communities—countless animals were also displaced, leaving shelters overwhelmed and pet owners struggling to care for their beloved companions. In response, BBF has provided Best Friends Animal Society a grant to support their emergency efforts, ensuring that pets affected by the disaster receive the care and protection they need.

Best Friends Animal Society has been a leader in animal welfare since 1984, operating the country’s largest no-kill companion animal sanctuary and partnering with more than 5,000 shelters and rescue groups nationwide. Their mission is to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets, and in times of crisis, they mobilize swiftly to protect the most vulnerable.

As wildfires spread across California, Best Friends quickly took action. With winds reaching nearly 100 miles per hour, their Los Angeles team saw smoke and flames from their West L.A. Pet Adoption Center and immediately began preparing for a possible evacuation. But their focus wasn’t just on their own facility—they responded to urgent pleas from local shelters, stepping in to help transport animals out of high-risk areas and provide relief to overcrowded facilities.

Best Friends moved more than 1,700 animals out of Los Angeles-area shelters through their emergency response efforts. This included offering stipends to local rescue organizations, allowing them to transfer 1,200 dogs and cats into adoption and foster programs. By doing so, shelters were able to keep space available for lost or displaced pets, increasing the chances of reuniting them with their families. Best Friends also partnered with Wings of Rescue and other donors to airlift more than 300 animals to their lifesaving centers and partner programs across the country, ensuring they had a chance to find permanent, loving homes.

Beyond relocation efforts, Best Friends provided direct aid to pet owners impacted by the fires. Their pet pantry distributed more than 20,000 pounds of pet food and supplies to nearly 400 families who had lost everything or been forced to evacuate with little more than their pets. By offering these essential resources, Best Friends helped keep pets with their families, preventing the heartbreaking reality of animals being surrendered to shelters simply because their owners could no longer afford to care for them.

Best Friends partnered with Petco Love and other organizations to deploy staff to all six Los Angeles Animal Services locations. Their teams worked alongside shelter staff to facilitate lost pet reunifications, promote adoptions, and remove barriers for volunteers—critical measures that eased the burden on shelters during the disaster and created lasting improvements in animal welfare practices.

As Los Angeles moves into a period of recovery, Best Friends remains committed to supporting local shelters and pet owners as they rebuild their lives. With BBF’s support, their lifesaving efforts will continue, ensuring that displaced pets are cared for, reunited with their families whenever possible, and ultimately placed in safe, loving homes.