daniel chigunweLOS ANGELES. – The trailers arrived all at once, carrying hundreds of horses fleeing the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles.
Some horses came solo, others in trailers packed with fellow animals.
Many had their owners, but others arrived alone, brought in by their rescuers or animal control. Pigs, donkeys and miniature horses followed.
Within 24 hours, the Los Angeles Equestrian Centre had been transformed into a modern-day ‘Noah’s Ark’.
Over the last week, it has sheltered hundreds of animals from the disaster as part of its official role as one of the city’s large animal shelters.
The facility, tucked in the shadow of Griffith Park, has taken in more than 200 horses, on top of the roughly 500 already living there.
Last Tuesday and Wednesday were “chaos”, said Jennie Nevin, a spokeswoman for the equestrian centre.
The facility catalogued every horse that arrived, making sure they could be reunited.
Sheltering the animals came at no cost for the owners, thanks to the support of public donations and frequent drop-offs of free hay, feed and other supplies.
Sergio Marcial was one of dozens of people who brought animals here after their own facilities were destroyed or threatened.
A week ago, he and his girlfriend Jenny Bacon raced to help rescue more than 70 animals from the Eaton Dam Stables while battling flames so intense that his face mask caught fire and his eyeglasses shattered and warped.
His efforts landed him in the hospital, his lungs and throat burned after inhaling the torched air.
One week later, Mr Marcial, 29, and Ms Bacon, 30, walked Arthur and Playboy – two miniature horses he helped save that night – around their new home.
Here, they were safe from the fires, and they seemed calm and friendly despite everything they had endured.
“It still hurts to swallow,” Mr Marcial said, pointing to a face mask he’s required to wear to prevent infections. “I’d do it all again – no question.”
Most of the sheltered animals’ owners have been identified, and several owners spent Tuesday afternoon walking their horses around the stables.– BBC
