Del Mar (Calif.) fairgrounds was one of many California venues that housed displayed animals during the recent wildfires.
With fires ravishing much of California over the past week, hundreds of people, livestock and pets have been displaced from their dwellings due to evacuations. In some cases, homes, farms, and facilities burned to the ground.
With shelter in high demand and not enough of it to go around, California venues, specifically fairgrounds, picked up the slack.
Del Mar (Calif.) fairgrounds took in 850 horses and 50 other types of animals. “Last Thursday (DEC. 7) we started taking horses in,” said Tim Fennell, president and CEO, Del Mar fairgrounds. “The fires were raging through the area and people needed a place to take their horses and other livestock.”
The displaced included horses, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, llamas, turkeys and chickens. As of Dec. 12, the fairgrounds still had 560 horses and 25 other animals still on the property.
“We didn’t wait for someone to tell us to open up,” he said. “As soon as people started contacting us, I made the decision to open up Horse Park to whoever needed the shelter. I reached out to my team and they immediately came out to help.”
Local animal groups eventually reached out; Fennell informed them the fairgrounds was already taking in displaced animals.
There was no charge for bringing an animal to the facility. “People show up and we take care of them,” said Fennell. “We had a tremendous amount of donations of hay and supplies.”
Fennell is unconcerned with the money that needed to be spent. “We’ll probably get some grant money at some point, but that’s not something we’re worrying about now.”
With the winds dying down and the fires somewhat contained, Fennell expects many of the animals to be going back to their homes shortly. “Some of the animals lost their homes and they can stay here until stalls are rebuilt or they find a place to go.”
“Fairgrounds in California have stepped up to the plate and will continue to do that,” said Fennell.
George Bradvica is the volunteer coordinator at Del Mar fairgrounds. “Our whole team mobilized as soon as we all heard from Tim,” explained Bradvica. “We have a written plan so everyone knows what to do.”
“Horses started showing up, and by late in the afternoon, we had 1017 animals on the property,” he said. “Once people knew we were open as a shelter, people showed up; there were numerous properties that were under evacuation.”
Bradvica praised the volunteers who showed up and all the people who donated supplies. “The community really came together. Without their help, we could not have housed all those animals.”
Los Angeles Equestrian Center also acted as a makeshift shelter. “Tuesday morning (Dec. 5) at 5:00 a.m., we got word that horses were about to come in,” said George Chatigny, GM. “We ended up accepting about 450 horses.”
Most of the horses came from the Creek Fire, which was still raging nearby. “We already had about 500 horses on the property,” he said. “Luckily, we still had unused stalls.”
Many of the horses have gone home; 175 horses still remain at the facility. Privately funded, the center will absorb the cost of taking in the animals. “Some of the evacuees have donated money and supplies,” he said.
Chatigny was not only a fire-evacuee hero; he was also a recipient. “I got a call that my horses in Oceanside had to be evacuated and had to be brought to Del Mar fairgrounds,” he said. “There were so many wonderful volunteers and professionals who looked out for my horses. I have heartfelt gratitude for what they did and the Del Mar fairgrounds operators for taking in so many horses.”
Regardless of the help he received, Chatigny was thrilled he could be of help and service to others. “We’re in the equestrian business,” he said. “These were not only people we are familiar with and care about, there was no hesitation to step up in a time of crisis.”
Animals aren’t the only beings that need shelter. Back in October, when fires were storming through Northern California, fairgrounds came to the rescue for people.
“We were activated as an evacuation center for both animals and people, and we eventually housed 400 animals and 450 people,” said Erin Post, CEO, Sonoma Marin fairgrounds.
“We had a dorm building with 325 cots, which was at capacity for three nights,” she said. “We also allowed RVs and camping for those who were displaced, as another option.”
Fairgrounds staff and volunteers manned the efforts. “We set up a medical center, a triage center, and space dedicated to the elderly and those with higher-needs, and a cafeteria.”
“It was a great learning experience for the staff,” she said, not wanting to leave out “all the volunteers who did such a great job.”
Post was also impressed and inspired by all the donations that poured in. “We had so much stuff that after the crisis was over, we had to spend days and days packing up the donations and sending them to other shelters.”