Once again, the loss from our most current fires here in Lake County is devastating.

I want to thank all our first responders, our warriors who put themselves in between us and the fires to ensure our safety. I want to give credit additionally to the people who braved the fires to keep our pets and working animals safe.

What the organizations like ASCPA, SPCA, Orphan Dog, the Lake Co. Animal Care and Control and Lake Evacuation Animal Protection, or LEAP (Lake County’s animal disaster group), do is truly above and beyond the call of duty. They work around the clock during the fires to make sure our animals are out of harm’s way.

During this fire, 5,609 animals were evacuated, sheltered in place (kept at their homes and provided with food and water) or sheltered at Animal Control as well as provided veterinarian services as needed.

I had occasion to see their effort firsthand this during this last fire. After my family returned from a six-day evacuation, I was at my vet when a mother cat with a severe eye injury and her 2-day-old kittens were brought in by rescuers, arrangements had been made for them, but I knew there must be more like them in need out there.

I reached out to the SPCA and arranged to foster a mother and her five 2-week-old kittens who had been dropped off during the fire. They are doing great and my daughter now has several new friends until they are old enough to find new homes.

These dedicated workers also ensure that all animals who are not reunited with their families are adopted, often sending them to other counties where their chances of adoption are higher or taking in donations to pay for the adoption fees locally.

I want to encourage everyone to support the efforts of these organizations and help where possible with the ongoing need for families to foster or adopt the pets left homeless by the fire.

Donations to LEAP can be dropped off at the Lakeport shelter. Or you can donate online to Orphan Dog, ASPCA or SPCA of Lake County through their Web sites.

Shanda Harry lives in north Lakeport, Calif.