A coalition of San Diego County animal advocates — from veterinarians to foster families — have answered the call to assist pets and other animals that have been affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. On Friday, an emergency flight carrying about 48 adoptable pets from the San Diego and Orange County humane societies left El Cajon bound for shelters in northern California and Oregon. The flight was organized with the help of Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit organization that supported the flight to free up space at the local shelters’ campuses so the organizations could take in more animals from Los Angeles, officials said. People load dogs that will be transported to shelters in other cities onto a plane on Friday at Gillespie Field. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune) “Within hours of the outbreak of the fires, Greater Good Charities was already mobilizing our response,” said its CEO, Liz Baker. “This emergency flight is an important part of our larger response to provide critically needed aid to those affected: from displaced families and unhoused populations to injured animals, overwhelmed pet shelters and damaged ecosystems.” The pets, which included 29 dogs and two cats from the San Diego Humane Society, were in the care of the shelters prior to the outbreak of the fires, officials said. Early morning Friday, shelter staff and animal control officers transported pet crates loaded with dogs and cats to Gillespie Field, where they were then carried across the tarmac and placed on the plane. Taped to the front of each animal’s crate was a name, such as Shelby or Torro, and on top were pieces of paper listing personal information, medical records and any other pertinent details about the animal. “This transport lets us step up and give our friends in Los Angeles the support they need during this devastating crisis, and for that we are incredibly grateful,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. The animals were taken to humane society campuses in Hayward and Portland, Ore., to be adopted or fostered by families and find their forever homes. A cat waits to be transported to a shelter. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The fires that broke out in Los Angeles earlier this month — largely near the Pacific Palisades and Altadena communities — destroyed thousands of homes, killed at least 30 people and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Officials said that in the opening days of the fires, more than 600 animals, from dogs and cats to reptiles and birds, were taken to the Pasadena Humane Society to seek refuge. The incoming animals had different stories as to how they arrived on the shelter’s doorstep — from being lost by their owners in the chaos, to being found as strays or being asked by their owners for temporary boarding while they found their new or temporary homes. In response to the large intake up north, four shelter staff teams from the San Diego Humane Society traveled to Pasadena on Jan. 9, bringing 28 dogs and one kitten back to campuses in San Diego and Escondido, organization spokesperson Nina Thompson said. That was in addition to the dogs that shelter staff had brought to the shelter’s Oceanside campus the day before, when two teams deployed. “It’s a smaller shelter and to have this kind of influx is incredibly overwhelming,” Thompson said. “Luckily the outreach and outpouring of support has been helpful.” Some of the care teams from the San Diego shelter stayed at the Pasadena facility to help with animal care in the days following the fire, while teams back in San Diego — and throughout the state — worked to assist the influx of animals in finding foster homes. Jeremy Colborn with Greater Good Charities helps load dogs. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Since the animals have arrived locally, the San Diego Humane Society has received more than 870 applications from prospective foster families. Of those, 265 have checked what shelter staff considers the less popular “unicorn box” on the application, where they offer to take on a dog that weighs more than 50 pounds and have no other pets or children in the home, Thompson said. Within the last week, 63 dogs have been sent out to foster, Thompson said. Donations to support the animals have also seen an increase. “The outpouring of support from the San Diego community has been above and beyond, especially when we made a call for help for fosters, to have so many San Diegans step in and want to help has been truly heartwarming,” Thompson said. The San Diego Humane Society is continuing to accept applications for potential fosters. For more information, visit sdhumane.org.