Tuesday saw continued fire devastation in horse-dense communities stretching from the San Bernardino Mountains down to North County San Diego. The blazes have resulted in increased numbers of equine evacuees pouring into shelters.
California’s tightly knit horse community ensured that as existing shelters filled to capacity, new facilities opened. But as the days will undoubtedly stretch into weeks, feeding and caring for displaced horses, whose owners are grappling with extreme emotional stress and, in some cases home loss, becomes more urgent.
If you are interested in donating to an evacuation shelter, here is a partial list of locations to contact. Not every site is in need, but some have expressed specific requests. Additionally, needs change on a daily basis as supplies run out and more horses come in, so be sure to call first. The shelter sites can provide telephone numbers of local feed and tack suppliers that are operational during the fires; most Southern California tack and feed stores take credit card orders over the phone.
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San Diego
The Animal Rescue Reserve Program of the San Diego Humane Society and Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals is spearheading animal evacuation and relocation efforts in San Diego. For horses, they have an immediate request for lead ropes and halters. They are taking donations at the San Diego Campus for Animal Care:
5500 Gaines St.
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 299-7012
The Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is currently housing 2,000 equine evacuees, is in need of hay and large water jugs. If you want to drop off feed and supplies, please call first: (858) 509-5245 or (858) 755-1161. For concerned equestrians who live out of the area, the Fairgrounds is set up to take hay and supply deliveries from: Carters (760) 436-4738; and Mary’s Tack & Feed (800) 551-6279. Both feed stores take credit card orders.
Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, CA 92014
Orange County
Orange County Fairgrounds
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 708-1652
Los Alamitos Racetrack
4961 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Contact Denny at (714) 299-8823
Los Angeles
Pierce College
Donations can be made to:
Foundation for Pierce College Equine Emergency Fund
6201 Winnetka Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91371
(818) 703-0826
Ventura County and Santa Barbara:
Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 West Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
(866) 387-8911
San Bernardino and Riverside:
National Orange Show Fairgrounds Citrus Building, Gate No. 7
590 Arrowhead Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 888-6788
Victorville Fairgrounds
14800 Seventh St.
Victorville, CA 92395
(760) 951-2200
Antelope Valley Fair Grounds
2551 West Ave. H
Lancaster, Calif. 93536
(661) 948-6060
Yucaipa Regional Park
33900 Oak Glen Road
Yucaipa, CA 92399
(909) 790-3127
In addition to the above, the United States Equestrian Federation is requesting donations to its Equine Disaster Relief Fund to help Southern California’s horses. Donations may be made online at www.usef.org by clicking here >>
To contribute to the effort by check, please make it out to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund and mail it to: The United States Equestrian Federation, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.