Woman Who Runs 2 Calif. Vet Hospitals Opens Homes to Pets Fleeing L.A. Fires
The death toll from the devastating fires has risen to five as of Wednesday afternoon
The death toll from the devastating fires has risen to five as of Wednesday afternoon ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Image of people evacuating the Los Angeles fires with pets:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/palisades-fire-People-evacuate-with-pets-010825-5685b77f66e444b4a5824234f5cb286f.jpg "People evacuate Temescal Canyon during the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades California")
Amid the devasting Los Angeles fires, one veterinarian is offering pets a place to stay.
California veterinarian Annie Harvilicz, who runs the Animal Wellness Centers in Marina del Rey and Laguna Vista Veterinary Center in Harbor City, quickly sprung to action when the first fire broke out around the Los Angeles neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
That same day, she posted a message on Facebook letting residents know she could offer their animals a home while they evacuated the area.
Related: How to Help Victims of the Los Angeles Wildfires Apu Gomes/Getty Image of firefighters putting out flames from the Los Angeles fires
"I have an empty old vet hospital in marina del Rey. I am happy to house any animals that need to be evacuated. If you know anyone who needs to leave and doesn’t have a place for their pets please have them email me at [email protected] and I can open up the old hospital for temporary housing. Also anyone wanting to help here is my foundation www.animalwellnessfoundation.org," her post read.
In addition to contacting by email, those interested in getting assistance can also contact the Marina del Rey location by phone at (310) 450-7387 and the Harbor City location at (310) 737-8600.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/ Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Image of the Los Angeles fires
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Harvilicz said she had helped take in roughly 20 dogs, 20 cats, and her brother's rabbit Oreo, as her hospitals can help treat pets with injuries and offer extra food and bedding.
“The majority of people reaching out are multiple pet owners. They might be able to take one dog or cat to a hotel but not two or three," Harvilicz told the newspaper.
Related: Here's What to Do If You Are Under a Fire Evacuation Order: Prep, Packing and More DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Image of a firefighter putting out flames from the Los Angeles fires
As of Wednesday, the fires have grown to over 11,000 acres, leaving five people dead, making it the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles County, according to the Associated Press.
An estimated 1,000 structures have been destroyed across the city, including the homes of many celebrities. In addition to many Hollywood events being canceled, over 30,000 residents have been forced to evacuate the city.
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.
