Finding Shelter for You and Your Pet After a Wildfire
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After a wildfire, many families face the dual challenge of finding stable housing and caring for beloved pets. Whether you’re trying to reunite with a missing animal or searching for long-term pet-friendly housing, use this guide to understand the resources and rules in place to help.
Eviction Protections for Hosting Pets
If you’re staying with someone after evacuating — or have opened your home to displaced friends, relatives, or their animals — emergency ordinances may protect you from eviction.
The Los Angeles City Council passed a one-year ordinance that prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for temporarily housing unauthorized pets or people displaced by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Rent increases tied solely to new occupants are also paused for rent-stabilized units.
“Acts of kindness and compassion should not be punished,” said Councilwoman Traci Park, who introduced the measure. “Anyone who has opened up their home to provide shelter, peace, and security should not have to worry about risking eviction for taking on additional pets or occupants.”
L.A. County enacted similar protections in unincorporated areas, preventing evictions related to hosting displaced pets or people through May 31, 2026.
“These are targeted, common-sense measures,” Park said, “to keep impacted residents housed while they navigate the recovery process.”
Wildfire survivors in Los Angeles County can get free Metro rides for up to six months through the expanded LIFE program. Find out how to apply.
Finding Pet-Friendly Rental Housing
Finding temporary or permanent housing after a wildfire is already difficult — having a pet can make it harder. Here are lists and resources to help find rentals and hotels that allow pets.
- BringFido.com allows you to search for hotels and short-term rentals for pet-friendly housing.
- Los Angeles Animal Services compiled a list of pet-friendly apartments in California.
- Several rental websites, such as ApartmentList.com or Rent.com, allow you to select a pet-friendly filter when searching online.
Navigating Housing Challenges with Pets
Even when you find housing that meets your budget and needs, there may still be some pet restrictions in place. When viewing a new rental unit or neighborhood, be sure to check for breed or size limit restrictions, pet deposits, or Homeowner Association rules. Apartment complexes may have stricter policies about cleaning after a pet and areas where they can be off-leash.
Always communicate with property managers before signing a lease, and make sure the space is suitable for your animal’s needs and comfort.
Reuniting with a Lost Pet
Fast-moving fires can separate families from their pets. Fortunately, several free tools and services are available to help reunite them.
The Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control Center advises anyone who lost a pet to use social platforms like Nextdoor, PetFinder, Craigslist and Facebook groups to get help from the local community. Services like Petco Love Lost, a national facial-recognition database for lost pets, and Pawboost, a free alert system for pets, can also help reunite you and your pet.
Other tips include posting flyers in high-traffic areas, such as grocery stores, libraries, and gas stations. Delivery drivers and mail carriers may also encounter your pet on their routes, as the animal may return to your area if it is out on its own.
Learn how wildfire survivors in Los Angeles can access, hold, or forward mail to make sure it gets to their temporary address. This guide also covers how to set up PO Boxes and manage deliveries from USPS, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon.
Wildfire survivors can claim a lost pet by searching the databases below or by contacting a shelter or fire-specific hotlines to ask about their pet:
- Los Angeles Animal Services: (213) 270-8155
- Eaton Fire Rescue Hotline: (626) 577-3752
Ways to Help
Shelters across Los Angeles County are stretched beyond capacity. Fostering or adopting an animal is one of the best ways to help right now. Another option is to shelter at home with any found pets instead of taking them to a shelter. You will need to register the pet with animal services, but keep it at home until it is claimed.
Anyone who wants to help can also volunteer at pet shelters or donate funds to these organizations. They also need supplies such as food, bedding, or crates, medical supplies, or transportation assistance.
- Pasadena Humane: Adopt or Foster
- Los Angeles Animal Services: Adopt or Foster
- Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control Adoptions
Government Wildfire Recovery Resources
Government Resources to Support Rebuilding and Recovery after Wildfires
Find essential government resources for wildfire recovery in Los Angeles, including FEMA aid, information about rebuilding permits, and a navigation tool to help homeowners and businesses in the affected areas.
More Resources for Pet Owners
- Here’s a list of pet shelters in Los Angeles County.
- Use this animal care service area locator to find a service provider in your area.
- Here is a list of several organizations that will help fund animal care or provide services for struggling pet owners.
- Human Animal Support Services has also curated a database for low-cost pet services, pantries and other resources to help keep people and pets together.
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