On Oct. 2, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger presented Pasadena Humane with a scroll recognizing our ongoing commitment to animal care and control in county communities including Altadena. The ceremony was attended by staff from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control and members of the Pasadena Humane Board of Directors. Pictured from left: Meredith Miller, board secretary; Dave Hopf, board member; Sylvia Baca, board vice chair; Supervisor Barger; Chris Ramon, president and CEO of Pasadena Humane; Marcia Mayeda, DACC director; Beverly Marksbury, board member.

Just a few days ago, we were honored to welcome Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Marcia Mayeda, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, to our shelter. They presented us with a scroll recognizing Pasadena Humane’s continued commitment to providing animal care and control services for county areas like Altadena.

That recognition felt especially meaningful because, only a few weeks earlier, Pasadena Humane had the privilege of hosting dozens of animal welfare colleagues for a Mutual Assistance Summit. Organized by the DACC, the gathering brought together agencies and organizations committed to strengthening emergency preparedness across the region.

For me, one of the biggest takeaways from the Eaton fire was realizing that no shelter can respond to a disaster alone. Any animal shelter faced with a natural disaster will need mutual assistance from neighboring organizations.

That’s why it meant so much to have animal first responders and disaster experts together in one room. It gave us a chance to learn from each other, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure we’ll all be better prepared for the next crisis.

Hosting this summit also leaned into one of Pasadena Humane’s core values: collaboration. It allowed us to honor our commitment to building community. Bringing animal welfare leadership together helps build trust, strengthens relationships, and ensures that when disaster strikes, we’re not meeting for the first time on the front lines.

During the Eaton fire, collaboration truly made the difference. Field teams from DACC, joined by the ASPCA, American Humane, San Diego Humane Society, Kern County Animal Control, and North Valley Animal Disaster Group, rescued, reunited, and cared for hundreds of animals trapped behind fire lines.

Shelters and rescues across the state took in adoptable pets that had been at Pasadena Humane before the fire. This opened up critical kennel space for fire victims and evacuees’ pets until they could be reunited with their families.

Local and national animal welfare groups, private practices, and Western University’s veterinary college also sent staff and volunteers to help care for more than 1,500 displaced animals that entered our shelter in the aftermath.

The Eaton fire response was proof of what we can accomplish when we work together toward a shared mission. I am deeply grateful to our partners for the trust, expertise, and collaboration they provided in our time of need.

Emergency response remains a core part of our commitment to pets and people. Like we have for over a century, Pasadena Humane will continue to help animals in need, whether in times of calm or chaos.

But preparedness doesn’t just happen at the organizational level — it starts with every pet owner. October is National Animal Safety and Protection Month, a great reminder that planning ahead is essential.

Every family should have an emergency kit with a few days of supplies, a plan for evacuation, and a safe destination for pets. We also recommend keeping your pet’s vaccines up to date and paperwork handy in case boarding becomes necessary.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your pet is to ensure they always have current identification. At Pasadena Humane, we recommend both an ID tag and a microchip.

We’re also strong advocates of licensing. Not only is it required by law for dogs (and in some cities, cats), but it’s also an extra layer of protection if your pet gets lost.

A license doubles as an ID tag, and when purchased or renewed through Pasadena Humane’s licensing partner, DocuPet, your pet is automatically enrolled in HomeSafe®, a free lost-and-found service that has helped reunite more than 20,000 pets nationwide.

In honor of National Animal Safety and Protection Month, Pasadena Humane is partnering with DocuPet to offer a free designer tag upgrade with every license purchase or renewal between October 6–12. Use code PHFREETAG at checkout. This promotion is available to all residents in our licensing service area.

Learn more about the benefits of licensing your pet at pasadenahumane.org/licensing

Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.

This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on October 3, 2025.