Rescuers Nab PETA Awards for Saving Animals From Carr Fire

Compassionate Rescuers Praised for Saving Animals From Deadly Wildfire

For Immediate Release:
August 28, 2018

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Last month’s Carr fire in Shasta and Trinity counties forced residents to flee for their lives and placed numerous animals in danger—but first responders and kind citizens worked together to save animals from the spreading smoke and flames, and PETA is sending the following awards to rescuers in thanks for their brave actions:

• A Compassionate Fire Department Award to the Grass Valley Fire Department for rescuing a cat and a chicken who were stranded together on a front porch
• A Compassionate Police Department Award to the California Highway Patrol, San Francisco Area, for rescuing an orphaned fawn
• A Compassionate Action Award to retired Marine Tucker Zimmerman, who rescued and transported 131 animals to safety and coordinated rescue operations and evacuation centers for over 1,000 animals
• A Compassionate Fire Department Award and a Compassionate Police Department Award to Cal Fire Engine 1489 and the Corning Police Department, respectively, for tending to and feeding Grant, a companion fish who was left behind when his family evacuated

“From an abandoned fish to an orphaned fawn, all these vulnerable animals were spared a traumatic and potentially deadly ordeal, thanks to the kindness and quick thinking of these highly deserving awardees,” says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. “PETA hopes their heroic actions will inspire people everywhere always to keep an eye out for and come to the aid of animals in need, especially during life-threatening natural disasters.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—reminds all animal guardians to have an emergency plan for their animal companions, including having carriers ready to grab in case of fires or other emergencies, and not to leave them behind to fend for themselves. Trapped horses and other animals can’t outrun wildfires. They should never be locked in their stalls or confined in any way that renders them unable to flee. Anyone who sees animals in distress and is unable to help should note their locations and alert authorities immediately. More information is provided in PETA’s wildfire-preparedness public service announcement.

PETA is also awarding the Vacaville Police Department for evacuating and rescuing 60 dogs and cats from the SPCA of Solano County ahead of the Nelson fire—a process that inspired an officer to adopt one of the dogs.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.