Volunteers from Benicia, Vallejo, and neighboring cities worked through the weekend sorting pet food, bedding and other donations for animals displaced by the Northern California wildfires. (Photo courtesy of Humane Society of the North Bay)
The Atlas and Tubbs fires led to thousands of homes in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties being evacuated and even destroyed in the flames. Many of these homes had pets, and whether the animals became stranded as a result of their homes being damaged or their families just needed a place to drop them off, several animal rescue agencies were on hand to take the critters in. The Humane Society of the North Bay (HSNB), brought in animals and volunteers even helped sort through donations for displaced families and their pets.
The Vallejo shelter has had a busy week since the fires first broke out, but volunteers— including some from Benicia— have helped make things easier by separating supplies to be donated to other agencies.
“Since the fire started, we ramped up pretty quickly to get volunteers in to help out with moving animal food that’s been delivered, supplies that have been delivered,” HSNB Shelter Manager William Oglesby said. “We’ve had volunteers come in to help with transporting supplies to other areas.”
As of right now, HSNB has taken in about 20 dogs and cats, although Oglesby said other shelters have taken in animals like birds, fish, rabbits and tortoises.
“We actually didn’t start taking in animals right away strictly because of where we are located,” Oglesby said. “We’re a little farther away from the actual zones where the fires were.”
Oglesby said other organizations took in the bulk of the animals, and when evacuees from American Canyon came to the area, they brought their animals to the shelter.
One of the biggest tasks for volunteers has been sorting through donation items. The shelter has received everything from bedding to dog and cat food, and volunteers have been working to arrange them into different storage areas until they can be distributed to other centers. Oglesby said some volunteers came by on Saturday to assemble a storage shed donated by Lennar Mare Island. Unfortunately, the kit provided had optional items the team did not have prior knowledge of, so the construction was delayed. Oglesby said the shed probably would not be put up until next weekend, but he appreciated the gesture.
Oglesby said that even though the fires are winding down, the goals of the volunteer efforts are long term.
“Three months from now, somebody is gonna be needing dog food or cat food or some sort of supply for their pet that we may have or that we can get through funds that have been donated,” he said. “This is not gonna be a short-term process for everyone getting back on track.”
Oglesby has been most touched by the outpouring of support by various communities in such a short period of time.
“It has been absolutely amazing watching our community and other communities near and far step up to help the animals and people in need,” he said. “I’ve not experienced that much giving and that much compassion in one quick (period of) time. We’re very grateful for our community and other communities that have been stepping up and wanting to help.”
Donations will be accepted at the shelter at 1121 Sonoma Blvd. in Vallejo or online at hsnb.org. For more information, call the shelter at 645-7905.
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Great article! The outpouring of support from Benicia and neighboring communities is an example of humanity at its best.
A HUGE shout out should have been given to ALL the volunteers at the Fairgrounds as that was a LARGE source of the donations received! They/We work 24 hours every day with NO PAID STAFF minus the security from The National Guard and Solano County Sheriff’s office. There is NO ONE from shelter including anyone from the board of directors, Nor from the fairgrounds or their board of directors there working overnight.
Those of us at the fairgrounds are all Grassroot volunteers while everyone’s sleeping comfortably in their bed at night.
My hopes are is that when people do come in to the shelter asking for food they are not stingy with the hand out as they have in the past by giving a homeless man, who would ride in in his bicycle with a pitbull and merely giving the gentleman a gallon-sized bag of food or just a quart Ziploc bag of cat food for those folks coming in needing assistance.
It’s time to shine and do the RIGHT THING HSNB!;We are ONE community and need to do things for THE ANIMALS!
Our community has really been amazing in gathering, donating, and giving of the most precious of gifts, their time. Thank you all and know that the Humane Society of the North Bay team is so grateful for the hours you have given. When lives are changed, WE are here for you!