County on the lookout for animals displaced by fire
BY JAMIE BUTOW, Californian staff writer jbutow@bakersfield.com
Just two days into the Old West fire in Tehachapi, Kern County Animal Control Director Guy Shaw was feeling fortunate he didn't need all the help so may people offered.
"We've had locals with horse trailers calling and offering their services. We even had people in San Bernardino calling and offering to transport and shelter large animals," he said.
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Sarah DeSmet holds a small kitten in her lap that was rescued from George Plesko's home on Snowshoe Road on Wednesday.
But so far, anyone who has had to move horses and other livestock have done it on their own, he said
"We're ready. We've got officers and volunteers should we have to move, but we haven't needed it yet," he said.
Stationing himself in Tehachapi, Shaw said two to three animal control officers were patrolling the area Wednesday afternoon looking for strays misplaced by the fires.
He said they have only picked up four stray dogs and were able to reunite two with their owners pretty quickly.
"The other two look like they may be dehydrated so we'll get them some care and get their photos up in the shelters," Shaw said.
He added the county has made arrangements with local veterinarians to care for any injured animals.
Jennifer Perfect, Kern County Red Cross public support officer, said county animal control has set up a shelter next to the Red Cross shelters for domestic animals -- dogs, cats and other small pets.
Missing an animal?
Stray animals in the Lake Isabella and Tehachapi areas are being taken to one of the following three shelters if no identification tags are found:
* Mojave Animal Shelter, 923 Poole St., Mojave. 824-1030
* Bakersfield Animal Shelter, 201 S. Mount Vernon Ave., Bakersfield. 868-7125
* Lake Isabella Animal Shelter, 4621 Lake Isabella Blvd., Building #9, 760-379-1696
You can also leave a message for Shaw at 868-7102. Leave information about your missing animal so animal control officers can be on the lookout.
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