Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control officer Fierra of the Carson division said that officers from Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County were called in from their respective areas.
Fierra assisted with feeding animals and making sure volunteers and vet technicians had the supplies needed to care for them.
Los Angeles City Animal Care and Control supervisor Pat Ott has assisted with at least six evacuations to Pierce College in the past 23 years.
Ott said Pierce is the most organized when it comes to assisting and helping the animals.
Ott helped tend to a horse that was severely burned. The horse has burns on her face and back, as well as respiratory issues that vet techs and Animal Control are trying to cure.
Rancho Tujunga resident Ray Lepone brought his horse Hunter to the Equestrian Center. He has been his caregiver for two and a half years.
“The fires were all over. The barn where [these horses] came from, burnt half way down at Gibson Ranch,” Lepone said. “We’re from Rancho Tujunga. We have about 80 stalls, almost 65 horses there.”
Veterinary Sciences Club Volunteer Neda Fadaee said they do not need anymore volunteers.
“We’re getting information,” Fadaee said. “The volunteers are basically going around every two hours to make sure the horses have food and water.”
Fadaee said she recommends those who volunteer to sign in and wait to see if the horse owners need help.
“Last night, we moved the pens from another location and we made 16 additional stalls,” Fadaee said.
Although more stalls were created, according to Animal Control, the makeshift stalls are held together with twine and may not withstand the winds, potentially harming the animals.
Dennesy Rogers brought three horses from Moorpark to the Equestrian Center. Rogers said horse owners can bring their horses to the Equestrian Center for free.
“As long as you have a vet and a crew to take care of them, I’m pretty sure you can take them to any evacuation center or hospital,” Rogers said.
Rogers arrived in the morning and said she heard people asking if their horses ended up at the Equestrian Center.
“If it follows its wind patterns, its going toward my barn,” Rogers said. “We left early because the air quality was really bad, and there was a fire about four miles away from my barn. We’re just going to stay here for a few days because the fire might hit Simi and Moorpark.”
Rogers came prepared, but she said the Equestrian Center has been helpful and supportive by providing food and assistance for her horses.
“I’m so glad we got here early,” Rogers said. “If we didn’t have enough time, I probably would’ve broken down. It was so stressful.”
