As flames roared into communities on all sides of Los Angeles last week, and tens of thousands of residents rushed to evacuate, trailers across southern California were being hitched and trucks fueled. A network of volunteers was preparing to descend on the fire zones, ready to risk it all to save pets and livestock in need.

In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the terror caused by howling winds, ashen air and the very strangers desperately trying to get them to safety.

Full story:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/14/california-los-angeles-wildfire-animal-rescue

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Local animal shelters are calling on the community to help provide temporary and permanent homes for pets displaced by the wildfires sweeping through Southern California.

LA Animal Services and Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control are offering fee-waived adoptions and urging residents to foster pets to ease 

overcrowding in shelters.

The fires have left countless pets separated from their families or in need of immediate shelter, officials said. “By fostering, adopting, or helping to reunite lost pets with their families, we can provide some relief to the many animals who are affected by these fires,” said Annette Ramirez, interim general manager of LA Animal Services.

Full Story:

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/fosters-and-adopters-urgently-needed-for-pets-displaced-by-l-a-wildfires/

Welcome to the 2025 VegNews Veggie Awards—the largest survey (and celebration) of vegan products, people, and places in the world with 40 categories and 465 nominees! 

From the best dairy-free milk, egg-free eggs, and plant-based bacon to your favorite celebs, athletes, and social media personalities—it’s up to you to decide the best of the best in all-things vegan in our annual reader poll. 

Veggie Award winners will be revealed in the highly anticipated Best of Vegan Issue of VegNews Magazine (hitting newsstands nationwide April 1), and all voters will be automatically entered to win one of six incredible vegan prizes valued at more than $18,000—check ‘em out below!

To vote:

https://vegnews.com/veggie-awards-2025

Veganuary invites you to start the new year by embracing plant-based living for the month of January—and beyond! This global movement, established in 2014, has inspired millions to explore veganism with free resources like meal plans, recipes, a celebrity cookbook, and coaching emails to make the transition seamless and fun.

Full story:

https://vegoutmag.com/news/veganuary-2025/

From cats and birds to tortoises and horses, a network of rescue groups is caring for animals affected by wildfires still burning throughout the Los Angeles area. But all these pet evacuees need space. To make room at kennels, a multi-state operation is under way to transport adoptable pets to other states. 

Animal rescue groups are moving hundreds of dogs and cats out of fire-devastated Southern California to relieve the local animal shelters overwhelmed by temporarily housing the pets of evacuees.

Full story:

https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2025/01/15/g-s1-42497/california-wildfires-animal-shelters

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom's coverage of wildfire and breaking news. Support LAist by giving now.

The L.A. area fires that have destroyed homes have also burned through thousands of acres of wildland that’s home to bears, mountain lions, squirrels and other animals. 

Wildlife rehab centers across Southern California are already taking in injured animals — and people are likely to come across more of them as they're allowed back into evacuated areas.

Full story:

https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/la-fires-injured-wild-animals-what-to-do

To me, hope is everything. It can help us envision a brighter future in our darkest hours. But as I’m reading and watching stories about the fires consuming the Los Angeles area, I feel gutted—sometimes hopeless—about what seems like never-ending devastation.

Like so many of you, FAAS has been wanting to offer our services, to help in any way we can. No one has any idea how many thousands of pets are missing, injured, or worse. Pasadena Humane alone has taken in more than 400 animals since the fires began. Search-and-rescue teams continue to find beloved cats, dogs, and other animals.

Full story:

https://alamedapost.com/op-ed/three-ways-help-faas-help-animals-los-angeles-fire-disaster/

PACIFIC PALISADES – Krissy Simmel stopped her Jeep at an intersection inside this fire-scorched neighborhood and lowered the window when she saw a military police officer.

“Were animals rescued today?’’ she asked.

“Just a lady with some spiders,’’ the officer replied. “I’m serious.’’

The wildfires of Los Angeles have killed at least 24 people, destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures and triggered something else: a massive pet-rescue effort.

The rescued include untold cats and dogs, goats and fish, and, according to the officer, Army reservist Jimmy Garcia, on Monday in the Pacific Palisades, arachnids.

Full Story:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/15/pet-rescue-la-fires/77687689007/

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 Center 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 thank 200 houses, on top of the roughly 500 already living there. 

Full story:

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - A dog whose animal cruelty case touched hearts when she was found a decade ago with her muzzle wrapped in electrical tape so tight it cut off circulation to part of her tongue has died, WCSC reports.

Caitlyn, an 11-year-old Staffordshire terrier mix, died Sunday after a brief bout of cancer, according to a Facebook post by the Charleston Animal Society.

“She suddenly became ill in the last week and was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive cancer. As was her nature, she fought until the end,” read the post, quoting the family who adopted the dog after the animal cruelty case ended.

Full story:

https://www.kktv.com/2025/01/15/dog-found-with-muzzle-wrapped-electrical-tape-heartbreaking-animal-cruelty-case-dies-decade-later/

 RUTHERFORD COUNTY, North Carolina (WLOS) — On Saturday, Dec. 28, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office served a criminal summons to Kevin Gonzalez, 30, for Instigating or promoting cruelty to animals, after deputies responded to a call from a neighbor about an allegation of animal cruelty.

Regina Doty said she discovered the puppies malnourished and neglected. Doty made the initial call and she said both law enforcement and animal control failed to investigate.

Full story:

https://krdo.com/cnn-regional/2025/01/16/residents-demand-overhaul-of-animal-control-after-cruelty-allegations/

A dog and her four newborn puppies have been found abandoned on the side of a highway close to the LA wildfires.

Over the past few days, the world has watched as devastating wildfires have laid waste to countless homes across the Los Angeles area. At least 24 people are confirmed to have died since the blazes began, with the potentially more casualties to come.

Though it is almost impossible to know the number of animals and pets that might have fallen victim to the fires, what's almost certain is that Taylor the dog and her litter of 6-day-old puppies would have been among those to perish were it not for the fateful intervention of a passerby.

Kaitlyn Morris, social media manager at the Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) animal rescue, told Newsweek about the circumstances that led to the dogs ending up there.

Full story:

https://www.newsweek.com/dogs-puppies-dumped-highway-middle-la-fires-deserved-better-2014775

“Rodeo returns” pro-con essays (Jan. 3): 

The opposing opinions do not have equal weight. Amit Dhuleshia represents the rights of animals, who cannot speak or consent to their parts in these events. The men from the Rodeo Alliance have a financial stake in conducting rodeos.

I’ve watched rodeo videos aghast as calves are terrorized and brutalized. We’ve all been raised in cultures in which certain practices become traditions. What was acceptable even 50 years ago is spurned in the 21st century. 

Americans have banned traditional dogfighting and cockfighting countrywide. Those heinous practices were part of American culture for hundreds of years. Many men earned money through breeding and betting. Making money is not a sound reason for continuing any practice!

As we enter 2025, we at the World Federation for Animals (WFA) are dedicated to strengthening global animal protection efforts and demonstrating how animal welfare is central to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

This year, we’ll focus on critical international policy processes, providing guidance for sustainable practices, and growing our global movement to protect animals and the environment.

Full Story:

https://wfa.org/advancing-animal-welfare-for-a-healthier-planet-in-2025/

After the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, wished every MP and the entire country “a cruelty-free Christmas” in December, the time has come for Labour to demonstrate concrete progress towards its manifesto commitment to develop a roadmap for the phase-out of animal testing.

The roadmap, which needs an ambitious timeframe, clear milestones and achievable goals, is due to be led by Lord Patrick , Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation. 

While Cruelty Free International has been given strong indication by the government that they are engaged in cross-departmental efforts to deliver the manifesto commitment, the organisation hopes that 2025 will be the year that concrete proposals and clear deliverables will be shared with civil society and the wider public.

Full Story:

https://www.politicshome.com/members/article/cruelty-free-international-calls-2025-turning-point-animal-testing

A series of new wildlife crossings in North Carolina are set to help protect a critically endangered species – the red wolf – from a significant threat, according to local news.

Wild red wolves were once common in the South Central and Eastern US but have been driven to the brink of extinction by human activity. There are only about 16 red wolves left in the wild, making them “the world’s most endangered wolf,” according to US Fish & Wildlife Service. Busy roads have fragmented their habitat – and collisions with cars are now one of the most significant threats to their survival.

To help save this rare wolf from extinction, the Federal Highway Administration has announced that 13 new wildlife underpasses will be built under a highway that intersects crucial red wolf habitat.

Full Story:

https://ladyfreethinker.org/new-wildlife-crossings-may-help-save-the-worlds-most-endangered-wolf/?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - 

One person is detained after an animal cruelty complaint on Monday that also resulted in the seizure of 24 dogs. The city shelter is now pleading for adopters to come forward after this influx.

At 10:40 a.m., Memphis police officers and Memphis Animal Services (MAS) responded to an animal cruelty complaint on Staten Avenue.

MAS interim director Mary Claire Borys says they are investigating whether or not the dogs found on the property had appropriate shelter in compliance with the city’s ordinance.

Full story:

https://www.actionnews5.com/2025/01/13/1-detained-after-animal-cruelty-complaint-mas-takes-24-dogs-investigation/

Behind the counter at a San Francisco seafood market, a worker picks up a yellow mallet and proceeds to bludgeon a live turtle before hacking into its shell with a meat cleaver. Its legs flinch as the blade strikes.

Video from live-animal shops shows rubber-smocked employees beheading frogs without stunning them first. The grainy footage shows dead fish floating in tanks alongside others that look like they’re dying, conscious frogs getting stuffed into a plastic bag, fish gasping on ice.

Full story:

 https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/13/live-animal-markets-violations-san-francisco/

Each new year, as we set off into the unknown of what lies ahead, I like to take time both personally and professionally to reflect on the past year and think about the changes I’d like to see in the new one.  

I take an honest account of my accomplishments, my challenges, the areas that I need to work on, and my intentions for the future. It’s how I start every new year and this time, I’d like to share my reflections with you.

Full story:

https://www.bideawee.org/news/committing-to-a-better-2025-for-animals/

Every day of every year, we take meaningful action to create a better world for animals. In the U.S., our State Affairs team works across the country to help protect animals in a variety of ways. 

One of the most important involves partnering with elected officials, law enforcement agencies, individual advocates and other parties to ensure that animal welfare legislation is put into place and then properly enforced.  

Full story:

https://www.humanesociety.org/blog/good-news-to-start-2025