Celebrities support pets affected by L.A. wildfires

Bob Odenkirk with a dog at the airport when he was volunteering for a transport during the Los Angeles wildfires
Celebrities are using their star power to support Best Friends’ work helping animals amid the wildfire crisis in Los Angeles.
By John Polis

As the Los Angeles wildfires hit home for many celebrities, they are using their platform to help those who have been impacted — including pets and the people who love them.

Global pop icon Ariana Grande is one of many celebrities to voice their support on social media for Best Friends’ work alongside other animal welfare organizations to help animals affected by the fires. Not only did Ariana post about Best Friends to her approximately 376 million Instagram followers, but she also donated $50,000 that will help Best Friends’ emergency response efforts in L.A.

Among the other stars showing their support are Ellen DeGeneres, Sia, Billie Eilish, Amanda Seyfried, Dave Bautista, Kat Dennings, Josh Gad, Allison Janney, Justin Theroux, Gracie Abrams, and Kristin Chenoweth.

[Best Friends mobilizes to save pets from L.A. wildfires]

“I love the work (Best Friends) is doing on the ground in L.A. helping animals in need,” Kristin posted on Instagram. “... Please consider adopting, fostering, or even volunteering. It literally saves lives. Or if you are financially able, please donate to this amazing cause.”

Amy Wolf, Best Friends’ celebrity and entertainment relations officer, says the response has been extraordinary. “Just in the last two weeks alone, our celebrity supporters have posted to their social media accounts with more than 750 million followers. With each post, they are inspiring donations, volunteerism, adoptions, activism, and other support.”

On Monday night, Best Friends also was part of Concert for America, a fundraiser in New York City with portions livestreamed from the home of actor Jon Cryer and Lisa Joyner in Los Angeles, that helped solicit donations for the California Community Foundation and its Rebuild LA campaign. At Lisa and Jon’s invitation, Mark Peralta, Best Friends chief program officer, appeared on the livestream with three dogs — Winter, Wally, and Freddie — all available for adoption from the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in L.A.

Helping out on the tarmac

Best Friends continues to take in adoptable animals from L.A.-area shelters to help free up space and alleviate stress in the shelters during the ongoing wildfire crisis. Many of these pets have caught flights to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, and some famous faces have come out to Hollywood Burbank Airport to help them on their way.

Actors Bob Odenkirk and Rosa Salazar rolled up their sleeves to help move crates and supplies aboard Best Friends’ second flight of adoptable dogs and cats to the Sanctuary.

Bob, best known for his role as Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill on Breaking Bad and its spinoff, Better Call Saul, is outspoken about his beloved dog, Olive, and what she means to him and his wife, Naomi. “My dog, Olive, is just the greatest,” he says. “I love her so much. She saved my life, and she saved my soul.” In addition to Olive, Bob and Naomi have a cat, Cece. Both animals were adopted from shelters.

[Fires inspire support for pets in L.A. shelters]

Rosa’s motivation to help is connected to her own dog, Mindy, who means so much to her. “Mindy is my child and family,” Rosa says. “I would be absolutely bereft if I lost her. I’m OK and my dog is OK (amid the fires). I’m staying with friends.”

Bob says he started thinking about how he could help the very first week of the fires. “Like everyone in L.A., I wanted to help. And having known Best Friends for years, it was obvious to give them a call and join in on this effort. Plus, I’ve been meeting a bunch of wonderful, sweet animals and great people at the same time.”

While Bob and Rosa helped prepare animals for the trip, the cameras of Entertainment Tonight were rolling.

Kneeling next to an affectionate black-and-white dog named Sunny, Bob urged the ET audience to adopt: "One way you can help is to adopt a pet — any animal shelter. Go find a good pet. You can save their life, and they can save yours too.”

Person giving an orange and white cat a medical exam after a transport from Los Angeles during the wildfires

Best Friends is responding to the L.A. wildfires

From our lifesaving center in West LA, we're working to save as many dogs and cats as we can in the face of this unprecedented disaster.

Let's make every shelter and every community no-kill in 2025

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.

Silhouette of two dogs, cat and kitten

You can help save homeless pets

You can help end the killing in shelters and save the lives of homeless pets when you foster, adopt, and advocate for the dogs and cats who need it most.

Saving lives around the country

Together, we're creating compassionate no-kill communities nationwide for pets and the people who care for them.

Let’s be friends! 

Connect with us on social media to stay in the loop about the lifesaving progress we’re making together.  
 

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