08/09/2026
🔥🐾 OKANAGAN WILDFIRE RESPONSE UPDATE 🐾🔥
Our hearts are with every pet owner across the Okanagan affected by wildfire.
It has only been a week since the first of these fires began, though for many of us it feels like a lifetime.
In that short time, we have seen families forced to make incredibly difficult decisions for the animals they love. Some had only moments to leave. Some had animals who could not be safely moved. Some had no choice but to let animals loose in the hope of giving them the best chance to survive.
We know how deeply your animals matter to you.
They are family.
ALERT’s trained volunteers continue working within our mandate to support animals and the people who love them throughout the Okanagan wildfire response.
🐾 Across the Okanagan, our trained teams are working with the appropriate authorities to obtain the access and permits required to assist animals in evacuated areas.
Where access is granted, we are evacuating animals that can be safely removed, while also feeding, watering and caring for animals that need to remain sheltering in place.
🐾 We are helping reunite animals with their people whenever possible.
🐾 Our teams in Penticton and West Kelowna are supporting evacuated pet owners while they access Emergency Support Services, with pet food, supplies and assistance available for animals in their care.
🐾 Throughout this response, we have already assisted hundreds of people and their animals.
If you have been evacuated and need support for your pets while accessing ESS:
📍 Penticton
Penticton Trade and Convention Centre
273 Power Street
Penticton, BC
📍 West Kelowna
Westbank Lions Community Centre
2466 Main Street
West Kelowna, BC
You can find information about ALERT, our emergency animal response work and how we can help at:
🌐 www.alertcanada.org
Behind every animal we assist are trained volunteers who understand exactly why this work matters.
They know the relief of knowing your animal is safe.
They know the worry of being separated from an animal you love.
And they know that sometimes helping one animal can make an incredibly difficult day just a little easier for an entire family.
We are incredibly grateful to the boarding facilities, veterinary clinics, businesses, fosters, volunteers, organizations and community members who continue stepping forward to support animals affected by these fires.
Every kennel offered, every transport completed, every resource shared and every helping hand has allowed us to continue helping animals and the people who love them.
Again and again, people have simply asked:
“How can I help?”
That generosity has meant more than we can say.
Thanks to the incredible support we have received from our community and the amazing organizations working alongside us, at this time we have the pet food and supplies we need to support the animals in our care. That’s is a wonderful position to be in, and we are truly grateful.
A huge thank you to Paws it Forward Dog Rescue, Tail Blazers Kelowna and Sunshine Pet Supplies, and to every single person who donated through them and helped make that possible. ❤️🐾
As we all know, emergency response can change very quickly, and our needs may change along with it. If there are specific supplies we need as this response continues, we will make sure to share those requests with our community.
If you would still like to support ALERT’s work during this wildfire response, donations through our Wildfire Animal Evacuees Fund on CanadaHelps allow us to direct resources where they are needed most as the response evolves:
❤️🐾 https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/animal-lifeline-emergency-response-team-society/campaign/wild-fire-animal-evacuees/
For every person worrying about an animal tonight, our trained volunteers are continuing to do everything we can, within our mandate and the access granted to us, to help.
To everyone who has opened a space, offered assistance, shared our information, supported our volunteers or simply reached out to ask what we need, thank you.
This response continues to remind us just how much can happen when a community comes together for its animals and for one another.
Your animals are family. We know that, and we are here to help. ❤️🐾
🌐 **www.alertcanada.org
