Alberta Wildfire - What Happens Next for Animals

Since the animal rescue work began in Fort McMurray, the Alberta SPCA’s (ASPCA) reunion centre in Edmonton took in 1,178 animals. 

The last transport of animals arrived at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, May 16 and the reunion centre closed on Thursday, May 19.

As of June 1st, the ASPCA had reunited 910 animals and another 106 were scheduled for pick up by their owners.

So what happens now?

The animals that had been in the care of the ASPCA have been moved to five facilities better suited to long-term housing: the Edmonton Humane Society, the Red Deer and District SPCA, the Calgary Humane Society, the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society’s shelter in Calgary and Meika’s Bird House in Sherwood Park.

For animals still in Fort McMurray, the Wood Buffalo animal control officers continue to pick up strays and to recheck houses registered as having animals but where none have been found to-date.

The municipality will continue working to reunite the animals now in its shelter with returning residents.

Anyone still trying to locate their pets should check the municipality website “In-Care Gallery” to see if their animal’s photo is there. Included in the gallery are photos of animals that came to the ASPCA without identification or with incorrect owner contact information.

The Fort McMurray SPCA is assisting returning residents who need supplies for their animals. Returning residents are requested to fill out the online form for assistance.

From the beginning the ASPCA recognized that many evacuees would be in situations where they couldn’t take possession of their animals right away, so they helped people find medium-term housing for their animals as needed.

Many animal rescue organizations, as well as numerous individuals across the province, offered foster homes for animal evacuees. In some cases, animals may need to be fostered for extended periods of time as homes and communities are rebuilt.

 

Rocky & Rambo were reunited with an ecstatic owner who'd had the birds for over 30 years.

Alberta Wildfire - Animal Rescue Update

Bella (ASPCA)

The Alberta SPCA has been posting daily updates on the status of the animals in their care that have been rescued from Fort McMurray.

As of this morning:

1,160 animals have been admitted since May 8

725 animals have been reunited with their owners

169 animals are scheduled for reunions

230 animals are without owner contact

Heartwarming photos of some of the reunions have been shared on the Alberta SPCA Facebook page as well.

(ASPCA)

Individuals and organizations have been pulling together to help the people of Fort McMurray in an amazing way.

The organizations involved in animal rescue and recovery efforts include the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray SPCA, Edmonton Humane Society, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force, Animal Care & Control Centre - Edmonton, Calgary Humane Society, Red Deer & District SPCA Main Page, Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society - AARCS, ZOE's Animal Rescue Society, Humane Animal Rescue Team (hart), Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, CaliCan Rescue Foundation, Hope Lives Here Animal Rescue Society, Saving Grace Animal Sanctuary - Canada, Barrhead Animal Rescue Society, Meika's Bird House and more.

Companies like Associate Vet Clinics have been collecting supplies and food and offering free boarding; and Pets Plus Us, Kijiji and HomeSafeTM came together to offer complimentary subscriptions to all evacuees’ pets on HomeSafeTM, an automated lost and found system that can help reunite people with their animals.

 

Rocky & Rambo (ASPCA)

Butterball (ASPCA)

Oscar (ASPCA)

Wildfires - HomeSafe Offer Expands to BC Evacuees

After the Fort McMurray evacuation in early May, Pets Plus Us, HomeSafeTM and Kijiji launched a pet rescue/recovery initiative for displaced people with pets - offering complimentary access and a lifetime animal record on the HomeSafe™ system.

With wildfires also flaring up in British Columbia, any evacuees from that province are also being offered this service.

This disaster recovery initiative allows those who have been displaced to register their pets without cost in the HomeSafe™ Automated Return to Owner system so they are protected as they experience confusion during an evacuation.

Those with lost animals can also register so the system can automatically match with animals being found and registered by volunteers and first responders in the affected areas.

Organizations and individuals who find animals post them on HomeSafeTM - creating a centralized lost and found database for all animals displaced by the fire. Contact Cori Imbery to establish access credentials as a CRA registered organization, municipal/provincial government agency or an authorized volunteer.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Evacuees:

Go to HomeSafeTM Website

Your code is PPU-FIRE-YMM

Alberta Wildfire - Animal Rescue and Reuniting Underway

The rescue of animals left behind during the Fort McMurray wildfire evacuation has not been without drama and controversy.

Initial news stories reported “rogue” rescuers entering the city without permission from the RCMP or other emergency personnel. Officials believing the city was not safe and, rescuer, Sam Sansalone voicing people’s worst fears, telling the Huffington Post, "This is a mass grave, in basements, in crates.''

(Alberta SPCA)

In the meantime, government agencies, humane societies, SPCA’s and rescue groups around the province were marshalling resources and planning the mass rescue operation. The Regional District of Wood Buffalo created an online form and encouraged all evacuees who had to leave pets behind to use this form to facilitate their rescue.

Fort McMurray SPCA staff returned to the city on Friday and, working with other organizations, began to support the animal rescue effort. They re-opened the shelter to provide temporary housing for rescued pets prior to transport to the pet evacuation pickup centre and provided some medical treatment.

The shipping of hundreds of animals to Edmonton began on Sunday.

The Alberta SPCA announced that as of yesterday morning 612 animals had been checked in and health-checked, 50 animals had been reunited with their owners and 67 were scheduled for reunions at the Fort McMurray People and Animal Reunion Centre in Edmonton.

Sassy

“Sassy has been rescued! We would like to take a few minutes to send out a great big thank you and heartfelt gratitude to those wonderful people who have been rescuing pets who had to be left behind in Fort Mac during the emergency evacuation. No words can convey how great flu [sic] we are for your efforts. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Sincerely hoping all pets are rescued, health and reunited with their families. The stress and uncertainty is overwhelming. Take care, stay safe!” Carol Sparker wrote on the Alberta SPCA Facebook page.

In thanking the organizations involved in the rescue - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Edmonton Humane Society, Calgary Humane Society, Red Deer & District SPCA Main Page, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force, Fort McMurray SPCA, Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society - AARCS, ZOE's Animal Rescue Society, Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, Humane Animal Rescue Team (hart), CaliCan Rescue Foundation, Hope Lives Here Animal Rescue Society and all the other volunteers - they showed the large amount of resources involved in making this happen.

Despite best efforts, there is still confusion about what the evacuees should do to find their missing animals.

Pet owners are posting on the facebook pages and twitter accounts of multiple organizations, asking for information about their pets, wondering why no one has given them updates.

“There are so many places to look, but I'm not even certain someone went to Willow's address to save her? I have been looking for her all over FB and I don't know the best source to even follow anymore.” Kim Brown on the Fort McMurray SPCA Facebook page.

HomeSafe, along with Pets Plus Us and Kijiji, are providing complimentary lifetime subscriptions to any pet owner displaced by the wildfire - whether they are missing or not. During displacement and times of stress, it’s easy for animals to get lost. A subscription to this automated lost and found service provides protection in case that happens.

Officials are requesting that all pet owners who left pets behind fill out Wood Buffalo’s online form which can be linked to from almost every animal organization’s website or Facebook page.

Alberta SPCA stated that animal rescue is still taking place 24/7 in the city but the process will take some time - pets need to be rescued, transported, examined and then matched with owner descriptions.

Alberta Wildfire - Associate Vet Clinics Offer Free Boarding

Select Associate Veterinary Clinic (AVC) hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary are offering free boarding for pets of families impacted by the Fort McMurray wildfire.

Boarding assistance at participating hospitals is based on availability. Pets should be current on vaccinations, but if they are not, AVC veterinarians will update vaccinations free of charge.

AVC Hospitals will also offer a free health assessment exam for pets that have been displaced as a result of the fire.

“Our hearts go out to all of those who have been impacted by the Ft. McMurray fire disaster,” Robert Pakai, Sr. Regional Operations Director, Alberta for Associate Veterinary Clinics, said in a release.

“As I travelled today throughout Calgary to the clinics picking up donations from our clients and clinic team members, it was evidently clear the passion our teams have for helping people make pets’ lives better.”

Calgary donations

AVC clinics in Calgary have collected enough food and supplies to fill five pickup trucks.

Pet owners are encouraged to contact the Canadian Red Cross or any of the following AVC hospitals for boarding assistance and more information.

Edmonton

Guardian Veterinary Centre

5620-99 Street

780-436-5880

Capital City Animal Hospital

11104-102 Avenue

780-433-9505

Calgary

Calgary North Veterinary Hospital & Emergency Service

204-4th Street NW

403-277-0135

     

Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE)

7140 12 Street SE

403-520-8387

Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre

1802 10 Avenue SW

403-770-1340

All other AVC hospitals in Alberta will be offering free wellness exams and collecting food donations for pets impacted by the Fort McMurray wildfire.