84 pets take rescue flight from Burbank to safety

On Saturday afternoon, two local nonprofits partnered up to fly 84 pets to safety out of Burbank Airport in the wake of the devastating Southern California wildfires.

The organizations, Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue, boarded 58 cats and 26 dogs onto the emergency rescue flight, including pets pulled from the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter in Lancaster.

The pets took off after 1 p.m., heading to Kanab, Utah, where Best Friends said it operates the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary.

“In the rush to evacuate a disaster such as the Palisades and Eaton fires, often pets can escape or become separated from their owners,” explained the organization in a release. “It then becomes the work of first responders and shelter workers to find and secure these lost pets until they can be reunited with their owners.”

Organizers said this rescue is meant to help reduce overcrowded conditions in shelters impacted by the wildfires, as well as to free up space and resources.

Wings of Rescue transported the pets in a twin-engine turboprop plane, which organizers described as a pressurized, temperature-controlled aircraft.

“All pets are medically cleared for travel and several safeguards are built in to avoid ever transporting a pet that is simply lost,” organizers reassured.

A second flight out of Burbank Airport will be made on Sunday, but this time will head to Seattle, Washington.

On Saturday afternoon, two local nonprofits partnered up to fly 84 pets to safety out of Burbank Airport in the wake of the devastating Southern California wildfires. The organizations, Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue, boarded 58 cats and 26 dogs onto the emergency rescue flight, including pets pulled from the Los Angeles […]