USA: HUNDREDS OF PETS JOIN THEIR DISPLACED OWNERS IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS AS WILDFIRES CONTINUE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Record ID: 648601

  • Title: USA: HUNDREDS OF PETS JOIN THEIR DISPLACED OWNERS IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS AS WILDFIRES CONTINUE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
  • Date: 30th October 2003
  • Summary: (U1) SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 30, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. PAN TO EXTERIOR OF CONVERTED HANGAR AT SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ABOUT 90KM EAST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES) 0.09 2. MAN WALKING DOGS IN FRONT OF HANGAR 0.17 3. PAN DOWN: INTERIOR OF FAMILIES LIVING INSIDE HANGAR 0.22 4. MAN PLAYING GUITAR 0.29 5. VOLUNTEERS WORKING AMONG CAGES AND BAGS OF DOG FOOD 0.33 6. PAN TO DOG CAGES 0.43 7. SCU: DALMATIANS IN CAGE 0.47 8. PAN OF DOGS IN CAGE 0.55 9. CU: KITTEN PLAYING WITH FINGER 1.00 10. CU: CAT STRETCHING 1.11 11. MAN PUTTING DOG IN CAGE 1.25 12. MAN LOOKING INTO CAGE 1.31 13. CU: ARM PETTING CAT 1.36 14. SOUNDBITE (English) CAT OWNER SCOTT ANDREWS SAYING: "I'm able to pretty much keep it under control when I'm around my kids and my ex-wife, like I said we're all down here in the shelter, but it's really hard to see my cat down here. I think it makes everything real." 1.57 15. PAN: DOGS SLEEPING IN CAGE 2.05 16. SOUNDBITE (English) CAT OWNER EDDIE FRERICH SAYING: "Just finding her, other than the way she looked, her eyes were real clear, and like I told one of the forest firefighters that drove up later, that made my day, finding that one cat." 2.18 17. PAN FROM BAGS OF DOG FOOD TO WOMAN WORKING ON CAGE 2.24 18. CU: DOG IN CAGE PANTING 2.28 19. DOG WALKING 2.33 20. SOUNDBITE (English) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN JENNIFER PENNELL SAYING: "It's been very emotional. I've had people come to me who are just in tears. They're shaking. They're holding their cat in their arms saying 'I was able to get my cat out. This is all I have left and please take care of our cat for us.' It's very emotional, both for them and for us. We're really happy when we see the owners come down and visit with their pets because the pets, they just perk up and it makes them feel more assured to have their owners come visit with them." 2.59 21. MAN WALKING HIS DOGS 3.11 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAAPR0Z1MXWXUGXXS0DYSDJW59I
  • Story Text: California fires leave hundreds of pets homeless

    As fires continue to rage across southern
    California, hundreds of pets are now joining their
    displaced owners in emergency shelters.

    The wildfires have killed 20 people, destroyed 2,400
    homes, and scorched more than 2,500 square kilometres (965
    square miles) of forest. One of the biggest emergency
    shelters has been set up in a hangar at San Bernardino
    International Airport, a sprawling converted air force base
    about 90 kilometres (56 miles) east of downtown Los
    Angeles.

    Hundreds of people flow in and out of the shelter each
    day to obtain information, as well as emergency food and
    clothing. About 1,000 people have been sleeping inside the
    cavernous hangar with their pets just a short distance
    away.

    About 115 dogs and 100 cats are being kept in pens, but
    their owners drop by several times a day to walk and play
    with the animals. The reunions are often highly emotional
    as many people only had time to grab their wallets and pets
    before they fled the flames.

    "I'm able to pretty much keep it under control when I'm
    around my kids and my ex-wife, but it's really hard to see
    my cat down here. I think it makes everything real," said
    cat owner Scott Andrews with tears in his eyes.

    Local businesses and residents are donating food and
    supplies to care for the noisy collection of pets.

    Community volunteers and veterinarians are also working
    hard to keep the pens clean and safe.

    Campground caretaker Eddie Frerich - who lived with
    numerous cats and dogs in his trailer - just arrived at the
    shelter Thursday (October 30). Frerich did not heed
    evacuation orders from police, opting instead to fight the
    flames himself with a hose and shovel.

    The fast-moving flames overwhelmed his defences,
    however, and the entire campground was destroyed. Frerich
    also lost track of most of his animals, but he did find one
    injured cat in a creek bed. Covered with soot and
    exhausted, he recalled rescuing his cat.

    "Just finding her, other than the way she looked, her
    eyes were real clear, and like I told one of the forest
    firefighters that drove up later, that made my day, finding
    that one cat," Frerich said. According to Jennifer
    Pe
    nnell, spokeswoman for the San
    Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Department, the
    special, loving relationship between pets and their owners
    has been demonstrated again and again at the shelter. Both
    have been through traumatic events in the past days, but
    Pennell says everyone seems to benefit from holding fast to
    each other.

    "It's been very emotional," Pennell said. "I've had
    people come to me who are just in tears. They're shaking.

    They're holding their cat in their arms saying 'I was able
    to get my cat out. This is all I have left and please take
    care of our cat for us.' It's very emotional, both for them
    and for us."

    was/jg


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