Wildfires continue to devastate communities across Spokane and other areas in Washington, and the need for help for pets, shelters, and families is greater than ever. So far, more than 67,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, and approximately 850 structures have been destroyed. Though firefighters are making progress on containment, dangerous hot, dry, and windy conditions are forecasted for the coming days, and evacuation zones remain in place.
Right now, Best Friends Animal Society’s emergency response team is leading lifesaving efforts and working with local and national partners to save the lives of pets, support local animal shelters, and help families stay together — lifesaving efforts that are possible only with your help.
As we work to save the lives of companion animals behind fire lines, Best Friends continues to:
Lead the Washington State Pet Task Force and collaborate with the Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team (HEART), American Red Cross, and so many wonderful volunteers at the Spokane County Fairgrounds, providing shelter operations support and care for affected animals
Search for lost pets using trained volunteers, cameras, centralized tracking, and AI tools to reunite them with their families
Coordinate transport opportunities with shelter partners in neighboring states, preparing additional capacity if more homeless pets — adoptable pets who were in shelters before the fires — need to be evacuated
Provide relief to overwhelmed veterinary clinics, which are seeing an influx of pets who need to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation
Deploy emergency response teams to sustain this lifesaving work for as long as it's needed
Every one of those efforts is possible because of compassionate people like you. Will you make an emergency gift today to help provide lifesaving care, reunite lost pets with their families, and ensure that we're ready for whatever comes next?
Your support enables us to act immediately when disasters strike and to stay where we’re needed most to bring hope to animals and the people who love them. Thank you so much for being part of this work and for all that you’re doing for the animals in Spokane and beyond.
