Victoria animal rescuers overwhelmed with dogs and cats left homeless by B.C. wildfires

The Victoria Humane Society is trying to find homes for dozens of kittens, cats, dogs and puppies that have been left homeless by B.C.’s wildfires.

“Last weekend alone, in a 24-hour period, we took in 31 animals,” said Penny Stone, the society’s executive director.

“The weekend before, we took in 19.”

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The society has been inundated with displaced pets who literally lost their homes in B.C. wildfires, Stone said.

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“These are all animals who people have surrendered because they’re no longer able to care for them because either they’ve lost their homes or they’re going to have to move and they don’t feel they can take their animals with them,” she said.

“This is not an easy choice for a lot of people, a lot of people love their animals dearly but they have nothing left.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "This is not an easy choice for a lot of people, a lot of people love their animals dearly but they have nothing left."

The pets are transferred from a rescue society based in Quesnel, where more than 400 animals are being housed in an arena, according to Stone.

Pets that are surrendered by their owners are handed off to the Victoria Humane Society, which has also provided about $12,000 worth of emergency medical care, she added.

READ MORE: Kamloops pet shelter organizer calls for provincial animal disaster relief program

In the last 10 weeks, the society has taken in about 70 animals displaced by wildfires but because it doesn’t have a shelter, all those pets need foster homes until they’re adopted.

“There’s nothing like the phone call saying, ‘I’m coming with 31 animals, what can I drop off at your house?,'” animal foster parent Lise Wessels said.

Wessels is urging others to also answer the desperate call for adoptions and foster homes, especially because this recent influx may just be the calm before the storm.

“I would not be surprised if we see about 200 more [animals] because what happens is once the fires are over and people are called to pick up their animals, that’s when they realize they’re not able to care for them anymore,” Stone said.

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "I would not be surprised if we see about 200 more [animals] because what happens is once the fires are over and people are called to pick up their animals, that's when they realize they're not able to care for them anymore," Stone said.

Stone said the best way to find out more about adopting or fostering these animals is by visiting the humane society’s website.