Search for pet-friendly, affordable rent after Eaton fire led to tough choice
Diamond (A520968) has a smile as bright as her name. This 8-year-old sweetheart lost her home in the Eaton fire, but not the love she has to give. Her devoted guardian spent months trying to find affordable, pet-friendly housing so they could stay together, but when every option fell through, he made the heartbreaking decision to surrender her, hoping she’d find a new beginning. Now at the shelter, Diamond is slowly regaining trust. Ready to give her the second chance she deserves? Visit us daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. or view pets online at pasadenahumane.org/adopt
Eight-year-old Diamond may have escaped the flames of the Eaton fire in January, but months later she still faces the realities of the destruction of her community.
At the start of this year, this pit bull mix had a loving home in Altadena where she was cared for. Sadly, that all came to a sudden end on the night of January 7.
When the Eaton fire tore through Diamond’s neighborhood, her house burned to the ground. Thankfully, she had safely evacuated with her family.
In the months that followed, Diamond’s guardian did everything he could to find affordable housing for himself and his dog. But he couldn’t find a place that would accept them both.
Three months after the fire, he made the heartbreaking decision to surrender Diamond to our shelter. Without a home for himself, he wanted to give her the best chance at a new beginning.
The immediate devastation of the Eaton fire was easy to see. What’s less apparent now are the long-term consequences for the animals in our community.
The fire decimated Altadena, including more than 6,000 homes. Around 66% of U.S. households include at least one pet. At a minimum, that’s nearly 4,000 pets displaced—likely many more when you consider multi-pet homes.
Four months on, we continue to see animals like Diamond enter the shelter. They may not have suffered burns—but they’re still grieving the loss of home and family.
It’s no surprise that we live in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Adding to that, the majority of Los Angeles County residents are renters.
Finding affordable, pet-inclusive housing is becoming increasingly difficult. Even when pets are allowed, additional costs often stand in the way. Pet deposits and monthly pet rent have become more common.
Many rentals either prohibit pets or have restrictions based on breed, weight, or number of animals. These policies disproportionately affect large-breed dogs, like Diamond.
Housing barriers create a heartbreaking cycle: pets lose their homes due to the lack of affordable, pet-friendly housing, and then face limited adoption opportunities for the same reasons.
Across the country, housing issues are one of the leading causes of pet surrenders. Families are being torn apart, not because they don’t love their pets, but because they simply can’t find an affordable place to live with them.
But the struggle to find pet-friendly housing isn’t an isolated issue, it’s part of a broader web of economic insecurity. Low wages, rising living costs, and a shortage of affordable housing have pushed many families to the brink.
When there’s financial insecurity, even a modest added expense, like pet rent, can be insurmountable. These added expenses don’t just affect where people live, but whether they can keep the animals they love.
Easy access to affordable pet-inclusive housing is a complex and growing challenge. There’s no simple solution. But more and more organizations like ours are raising their voices for a future with more pet-inclusive housing in our community.
We also continue to offer support services like a Pet Food Pantry, fully subsidized vaccines and spay/neuter, and vet vouchers to help those in need keep their pets.
As proud as I am to be part of an organization like Pasadena Humane that offers shelter for a dog like Diamond, a simple truth remains, no one should have to choose between their beloved pet and a place to live.
Diamond is still waiting for her second chance. Her story is just one of many, each rooted in the same challenge—families trying to stay together in the face of crisis and hardship.
At Pasadena Humane, we will continue to envision a future where pets and people don’t just survive—but thrive—together. And we won’t stop until every Diamond has a place to call home.
To learn more about adopting Diamond or any of the pets in our care, stop by the shelter daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit pasadenahumane.org/adopt
Chris Ramon is interim president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on May 2, 2025.
