The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is continuing efforts Friday to alleviate the burden on Los Angeles-area facilities.
Shelter staff have taken in approximately a dozen cats and dogs since Tuesday from the Los Angeles area — animals that were already in regional shelters, rather than animals that were displaced by the wildfires, to make room elsewhere.
“We’re working on an out-of-state transfer for the animals we took in from L.A.,” said Kyele Donnelly, the shelter’s marketing and communications manager. “[We’re helping] them find forever homes in places where, maybe, there’s more of an opportunity and a little more space.”
The self-proclaimed “only no-kill shelter in the Coachella Valley,” Palm Springs Animal Shelter has been choosing to work only with other no-kill shelters and sanctuaries.
Donnelly said the shelter has been at capacity for most types of pets, having to assign two to three dogs per kennel. The facility also ran out of storage for items such as dog beds and toys, surplus from a recent drive.
Monetary support and more niche donations, such as towels, are still being accepted. Like the Los Angeles-area shelters, the Palm Springs Animal Shelter has started to specify what they need on social media to prevent overflow.
“The community really stepped up,” Donnelly said. “As soon as we made a call, within two or three days, we had more than we ever though we would need.”
Donnelly estimated that there hasn’t been any significant difference in the number of adoptees since the wildfires began. The shelter may attempt another transfer next week, dependent on any potential overcrowding and disruptions to pet services.
Further updates from shelter staff can be found on Instagram @palmspringsanimalshelter.