Help for people and animals evacuating the River fire

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)

Toro Park School on Portola Drive is now available as a resource center for residents displaced by the River Fire in search for a place to shelter.

Community members and volunteers gathered snacks, water and face masks for any people in need. 

Volunteers at the center are currently asking people to make monetary donations at www.montereycountyrecovers.org to help provide housing and resources for residents who evacuated. 

“The services that we’re offering is resources to housing, so we are referring them to the Red Cross if they need a place to stay. We’re all here to support one another, we will get through this,” says Gigi Dominguez, Eligibility Specialist in Monterey County. 

For health and safety reasons, people are being asked not to donate any physical items such as clothes and blankets. 

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Monterey County is also providing shelter for displaced pets who cannot be taken with their owners during this time. 

Currently, 38 animals are being sheltered at the SPCA Center in Salinas, including some emu and an alpaca. 

A spokesperson for SPCA Monterey County says the organization has been working to help residents evacuate their animals.

"Finding them the right place to go, be the Marina Equestrian Center which has really opened up their doors to animals in need, or the Rodeo grounds which is also helping and really keeping track of which animals are going where,” says Beth Brookhouser. 

Brookhouser says the SPCA is prepared to take in as many animals that need shelter and is working on turning their adoption center into a full evacuation center for the animals if needed. 

Brookhouser says the SPCA is 100% funded by donors and is taking for community support.

To request help for animals or to make a donation, visit spcamc.org