LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the wake of the Sulphur fire’s destruction, Lake County Animal Care and Control and Clearlake Animal Control are working to get animals found during the fire back to their homes.
Officials reported this week that they actually have taken in a limited number of animals in this recent incident when compared to rescues needed during the Rocky, Valley or Clayton fires.
During the Sulphur fire, which began on Oct. 9 and burned 168 structures in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks, Lake County Animal Care and Control activated its Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, or LEAP, volunteers, according to Director Bill Davidson.
“We didn't take in that many animals, nor did we get a lot of calls for service, maybe 55 for the whole week,” Davidson told Lake County News.
That number breaks down to 35 dogs and 20 cats. Davidson said they also helped rescue a cow, a goat, a horse and eight chickens.
He said LEAP teams did daily animal welfare checks on animals throughout the mandatory evacuation area – both in the city and county jurisdiction.
Davidson said almost all of the rescued animals have been returned to their owners, with four dogs and several cats remaining at the shelter. There have been only a handful of injured animals, primarily cats.
He said all strays that came in during the fire will be held 30 days before they are put up for adoption to the public.
Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department, the agency which oversees Clearlake Animal Control, said they took in four dogs and one cat as a result of the fire.
Davidson said the county’s animal shelter was almost full after the third day of the fire – primarily with animals from Clearlake – and they considered having the SPCA of Lake County in Kelseyville open its facility.
However, at that point the city of Clearlake started repopulation and animals started going home, he said.
Davidson said they also transferred a number of animals out to several rescues.
Regarding the fact that the shelter took in fewer animals this time than in previous fires, Davidson said, “I think two things happened here: Most people were home when it happened so they could take their pets with them, and then I would like to think that our message about ‘taking them with you’ over the last few years has sunk in.”
Marcia Taylor of Clearlake Animal Control said they are still looking to reunite dogs with their families, with pictures of the dogs posted on the front windows at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive. Pictures of the dogs also were provided by Taylor to Lake County News and are shown below.
If you are missing a pet contact Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter’s Web site and check out the shelter search at http://publicapps.lakecountyca.gov/publicanimals/shelter/ShelterSearch.
Clearlake Animal Control can be reached at 707-994-8201, Extension 103 or call Extension 118.
Davidson said there are Facebook pages specifically set up to address missing and found pets in the search area; he also suggested dropping off a flier at local veterinarians’ offices.
The animals found in the Sulphur fire area are listed below.
CLEARLAKE ANIMAL CONTROL
This female dog has a short black and white coat.
This female dog has a short tricolor coat.
This female dog has a medium-length black coat.
This male dog has a short brown coat.
This male dog has a short red coat.
LAKE COUNTY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
DOGS
Labrador Retriever-poodle mix
This female cream-colored Labrador Retriever-poodle mix was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Oct. 9.
She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 8694.
German Shepherd mix
This young male German Shepherd mix was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Oct. 9.
He is unaltered and has a medium-length black and brown coat.
He is in kennel No. 5, ID No. 8693.
Border collie mix
This female border collie was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Oct. 12.
She has a medium-length black and white coat and is not spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 8, ID No. 8730.
Female boxer mix
This female boxer mix was found on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake Park on Oct. 13.
She has a short red and white coat. She is not spayed.
She is in kennel No. 12, ID No. 8736.
CATS
Female domestic short hair
This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake Oaks on Oct. 18.
She has green eyes and a brown tabby coat. She is not spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 54a, ID No. 8772.
Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake Oaks on Oct. 18.
She has green eyes and a gray and white coat. She has not been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 54b, ID No. 8773.
Female domestic short hair
This adult female domestic short hair was found in Clearlake Oaks on Oct. 13.
She has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.
She is in kennel No. 88, ID No. 8742.
Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12.
He has a black coat and gold eyes.
He’s in kennel No. 94, ID No. 8728.
Female domestic short hair
This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 13.
She has a torbie coat and gold eyes. She has not been altered.
She’s in kennel No. 99, ID No. 8739.
Female domestic short hair
This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 12.
She has a black coat and green eyes. She has not been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 147a, ID No. 8731.
Female domestic short hair
This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 12.
She has a gray coat and green eyes. She has not been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 147b, ID No. 8732.
Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12.
He has a black coat and gold eyes.
He’s in kennel No. 153, ID No. 8727.
Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12.
He has a black and white coat and gold eyes.
He’s in clinic kennel No. 295, ID No. 8729.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.