Working on the front lines for animals during a disaster
When my alarm jolted me awake at 3:15 a.m. on a Sunday, my first thought was there must be some mistake — but there wasn’t. By 8 a.m., my coworker and I were to report to Butte County’s Emergency Operations Center to receive our assignments. We were being deployed under our state’s Emergency Management Mutual Aid to assist in the wake of the North Complex fires.
When requested through EMMA, trained Marin Humane staff and volunteers can be sent to assist with animal-related work in response to a disaster. Our animal services officers have rescued stranded animals during and after several major wildfires, and our animal care team have helped relieve exhausted shelter workers in affected regions. Others, like myself and my co-worker, Julia Cole, don’t regularly work in those aspects of animal welfare, but have extensive animal-handling experience.
Once we arrived at the EOC, we learned we’d be helping at Camelot, a large animal evacuation shelter in Oroville. On a previous deployment, I’d helped with cats and dogs, but — to my secret delight— this was going to be my first assignment caring for larger animals: mostly horses, but also goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, donkeys and even a mother cow and her adorable, tiny
calf. I love working with farm animals — it’s such a change of pace, and timepermitting, I make a point to discover their personalities, which are just as varied and unique as those of cats and dogs.
By the time we got to work on the first day, I’d already been awake for six hours and the shift had barely even begun. Mucking stables is a time-consuming task to start with,
so that’s what my coworker and I tackled together. We made our way down the stalls, removing manure and documenting its approximate volume in each chart. In fact, each task must be checked off and noted with a timestamp.
That way, anyone can determine the status of each kennel or pen, and when the animal was last fed, watered or cleaned. By
using a universal, shared system, no animal gets left out and duties can be transferred and rotated easily.
Day two brought some unique excitement. Several huge draft horses were leaving the shelter, so we decided to move the other animals closer to the main barn for more efficient care.
This included a pair of highly uncooperative llamas
that simply refused tomove at all. Thankfully, with some help and the creative use of movable gates (as well as a few gentle but full-body pushes), the llamas relented and were successfully relocated.
During the last day of our deployment, I assisted the mobile veterinarian while she performed checks on the animals, which occasionally involved restraining gigantic sheep and goats. We also built an aviary for a small flock of pheasants that had just arrived.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the aftermath of a disaster, and glad to know that Marin Humane will always offer to help whenever we can. As the digital marketing specialist, my typical duties at Marin Humane involve updating the website and crafting e-newsletters.
By contrast, these 10to 12-hour shifts of handson work were exhausting but exhilarating, and I’m reminded we’re able to help because people in our community support our disaster relief efforts through donations. Your support and contributions allow Marin Humane to say “yes!” whenever help is needed. There’s hardly a dry eye whenever an animal gets reunited with their family. On behalf of these survivors, thank you.
To support Marin Humane’s disaster relief efforts, go to marinhumane. org/donate.
Carina DeVera is the digital marketing specialist for Marin Humane which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes questions about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @ marinhumane or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.