The horse center hosts hundreds of animals

Trailers arrived suddenly, carrying hundreds of horses fleeing the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles.

Some horses came alone, others in trailers packed with other animals. Many had their owners, but others arrived alone, brought in by rescues or animal control. A horse, according to the volunteers, carried its owner from Altadena, which would have taken five hours on foot. Pigs, donkeys and miniature horses followed.

Within 24 hours, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center was transformed into today’s Noah’s Ark. In the past week, it has rescued hundreds of animals from the disaster as part of its official role as one of the city’s largest animal shelters.

The facility, located in the shade of Griffith Park, has housed more than 200 horses, in addition to the approximately 500 that live there.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday was “chaos,” said Jennie Nevin, spokeswoman for the equestrian center. The facility cataloged all arriving horses, ensuring they could be reunited. There was no cost to the owners to take the animals into the shelter, thanks to the support of public donations and the frequent dropping of free hay, feed and other supplies.

Sergio Marcial was one of dozens of people who brought the animals here after his facilities were destroyed or threatened.

A week ago, his girlfriend Jenny Bacon and his girlfriend raced to help rescue more than 70 animals. Eaton stable damWhile fighting the intense flames, his face mask caught fire and his glasses shattered and warped.

His efforts landed him in the hospital after inhaling burning air that burned his lungs and throat.

A week later, Mr Marcial, 29, and Ms Bacon, 30, walked Arthur and Playboy – two miniature horses she helped save that night – around their new home. Here, they were safe from the fires, and they seemed calm and kind despite everything they had been through.

“It still hurts to swallow,” Mr. Marcial said, pointing to the face mask he must wear to prevent infection. “I would definitely do it all over again.”

Most of the owners of the sheltered animals have been identified, and several owners spent Tuesday afternoon walking their horses around the barns.

Dozens of volunteers cared for the other animals housed at the center. Some became local celebrities.

The two donkeys, Morris and Mika, often poked their heads out of their barn for attention. They fled the mountain with their owner as the Palisades fire approached, only to be reunited because he had spray-painted his number on the sides.

“They love to sing to you,” said volunteer Lucena Herrera. “We’ve all been taking care of it.”

But a few animals are still unclaimed. A miniature horse named Izzy had still not found her owner a week after the fires. Volunteers collectively adopted him until he found a new, permanent home.

So many volunteers came forward to help the animals that staff had to turn some away, Ms Nevin said. Now between 50-100 volunteers swept the stalls, fed the animals, raked hay and serenaded Morris and Mika when they got nervous.

Seeing the owners meet the horses was one of the most valuable experiences for the volunteers, said London Scott, founder of the local Cali Cowboy Club.

“It’s a really beautiful process to go through,” Ms. Scott said, “to be able to see that firsthand and know that you played a small part in a tragic moment where someone had a little bit of peace.”

Locals describe a deep bond with their animals and say the burned farms are a place of peace in this bustling metropolitan area.

“They are my safe place,” said Catherine Armenta, 42. “It’s like a bond, a bond that I don’t really have with anything else on this planet.”

Many here don’t know what will happen next, where they can take their animals after the chaos of the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles region is over.

“I couldn’t even process anything about this. There are 40 horses to take care of,” Bacon said. “When it’s all said and done, I think we’re all going to go get margaritas and have a good cry.”