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Meet the rescuers who have saved countless lost dogs, cats and even fish from the devastating LA fires

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Jessica Davis, founder of Malibu-based rescue group Boomer's Buddies, is on a mission to rescue scores of missing pets from people who couldn't get home when the fires started in Los Angeles

Rescuers across Southern California have worked through endless rubble and thick black smoke to find the missing pets of families who were unable to make it back home when devastating fires hit Los Angeles.

The founder of the Malibu-based rescue group Boomer’s friendsJessica Davis, was evacuated from her home as the Palisades and Eaton Fires raged.

But that doesn’t stop her from searching for pets that may have survived the devastation.

“These pets were not abandoned intentionally. Many people were at work and ran back home to save their animals but were stopped by authorities,” Davis told DailyMail.com.

“Imagine the pain of not being able to reach your pet.”

Since embarking on her most recent rescue mission, Davis has rescued several pets, including a 25-year-old turtle, koi and goldfish, and a cat that could not be retrieved before the deadly fire first flared up in the Pacific Palisades Community.

“The look on that cat’s face, this feeling of relief. You just never know how a cat is going to react. He came right out from under the bed and was as sweet as could be. It is priceless to see him reunited with his person.”

“These animals, birds and fish are all someone’s pets. No creature is too small or too big. Every life counts. Every life has value,” Davis said.

Jessica Davis, founder of Malibu-based rescue group Boomer’s Buddies, is on a mission to rescue scores of missing pets from people who couldn’t get home when the fires started in Los Angeles

A dog walks past a firefighter as the Eaton Fire burns in Altadena, California, on January 8

A dog walks past a firefighter as the Eaton Fire burns in Altadena, California, on January 8

The fires have claimed the lives of at least 27 people – and countless animals

The fires have claimed the lives of at least 27 people – and countless animals

Davis was elated when she came across five chickens who survived the wreck, despite the fires destroying everything around them – including the family’s home.

“Their chicken coop was the only structure left standing among the rubble. When I rescued the chickens, I was alone. It was super hard, but I had nets and that’s how I caught them,” Davis told DailyMail.com.

‘I took them to a friend’s house who has a bigger hutch where they can unpack. They will join other rescue animals I have brought to her in the past, including Tortellini the turtle and Steve, a rooster I rescued.”

The next day, Davis returned to the location and set up a cat trap for a black cat she saw during her chicken rescue.

“There’s a cat up there that made it too. It was one of the wild outdoor cats. I fed him and gave him some water, but I couldn’t catch him because he kept walking.

But Davis explained that the organization does not have the manpower needed to save these animals given the large area of ​​destruction.

“We need more boots on the ground. There are only a few of us here. There is so much ground to cover,” Davis said.

“Fortunately, animal rescues work together as best they can to get the most out of themselves every day.”

Davis of Boomer's Buddies Rescue said rescuers found this cat in an evacuated home

Davis uses social media to work with other rescuers to locate the owners of these lost animals

Davis of Boomer’s Buddies Rescue said firefighters found this cat in an evacuated home. Davis uses social media to work with other rescuers to locate the owners of these lost animals

Many people who had to evacuate from their homes have had to surrender their pets to the Pasadena Humane Society – including Edgar Hernandez who was forced to surrender his cat

Many people who had to evacuate from their homes have had to surrender their pets to the Pasadena Humane Society – including Edgar Hernandez who was forced to surrender his cat

HIT (Honesty/Integrity/Trust) Living International has also used social media to update the status of missing pets - they work with the Pasadena Humane Society

HIT (Honesty/Integrity/Trust) Living International has also used social media to update the status of missing pets – they work with the Pasadena Humane Society

Social media has played a key role in locating these lost animals, allowing rescues to strategize together and continually update their status.

“We all work together by sharing photos of missing animals and found pets and providing ongoing updates on our progress. We distribute these photos on Instagram. It really is a team effort,” Davis explained.

HIT (Honesty/Integrity/Trust) Living International is one of several organizations that have used social media to locate missing pets from the Eaton Fire in Altadena, about 35 miles northeast of the Palisades Fire.

On their Instagram story they constantly post updates about the animals that have been found and the animals that are still lost.

HIT partners with the Pasadena Humane Society, which has rescued countless animals from destruction.

Mel Sobolewski of the Certified Animal Emergency Response Team has been working non-stop in its efforts to save as many pets as possible.

Sobolewski, along with her two dogs, were able to save a woman who was unable to evacuate due to a recent knee replacement surgery.

She also managed to save a cat, a hamster named Hammy, and Sparkles, a beta fish.

Owners of these lost pets have contacted Davis and other rescue groups to locate their friends' animals – and their own. The status of these two dogs is still unknown

Owners of these lost pets have contacted Davis and other rescue groups to locate their friends’ animals – and their own. The status of these two dogs is still unknown

Cats fostered at the Pasadena Humane Society will look out of their enclosure on January 10

Cats fostered at the Pasadena Humane Society will look out of their enclosure on January 10

Davis explained that the organization does not have the manpower needed to rescue these animals, given the large number of pets that have been found and need to be reunited with their owners – including this large dog.

Davis explained that the organization does not have the manpower needed to rescue these animals, given the large number of pets that have been found and need to be reunited with their owners – including this large dog.

“When I told the Sparkles family she was alive, they screamed.

‘Rescuing a goldfish may not seem like a big deal to some, but for one family it makes all the difference in the world. It is the only piece of life left of their home,” Sobolewski told DailyMail.com.

The animal rehabilitator’s most recent rescue lasted two grueling hours.

“I got a call about some turtles, and when I got to the property I saw koi fish that were still alive. Well, I couldn’t leave without the fish.

‘I never thought I would save fish, but now I think to myself: how am I going to transport this fish? I found out that these koi fish are 20 years old.

‘You have to be creative. My car was packed in case I had to evacuate at some point, and lo and behold, I remember my cat’s litter box. I was able to transfer the koi fish to the empty litter box.

‘This was perhaps the most physically challenging rescue I have ever done. The pond was full of debris from the wind and fire. There were dead fish. The water was poisonous.

“To get the fish, I had to drain the whole pond first,” Mel said. ‘I was able to get them all.

A dog in care at the Pasadena Humane Society looks out from his kennel

A dog in care at the Pasadena Humane Society looks out from his kennel

Sobolewski’s Instagram post showing her saving the fish has led to her inbox filling up with requests to save more koi.

‘Who would have thought there were so many koi fish enthusiasts?’ the mother of one mused.

Sobolewski said she was used to rescuing larger animals like donkeys and goats, even going so far as to rescue her first horse during the Woolsey Fires in 2018.

So when she had to rescue Hammy the Hamster, she said it “almost gave me a heart attack” because he was stuck in a tube in his cage.

Fortunately, Hammy was still alive and Sobolewski was able to save him.

Rescuers pushed through poor air quality and debris to continue their mission. Davis described the first day as “brutal.”

“I had a huge migraine and it was hard to breathe,” Davis said.

Davis tackles the most serious cases, where injured animals are abandoned and discarded. Her specialty is older cats with health problems that require specialized care and lots of TLC.

“It can be really heartbreaking, but I stay as focused as I can with that one goal: to save as many animals as possible.”

The city of Los Angeles is asking the public for help in sheltering and adopting the thousands of dogs, cats and rabbits already living in the county’s overcrowded and underserved animal shelters.

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