Unexpected help for a parrot amid L.A. wildfires

When the Los Angeles wildfires swept through Michelle Bertonneau’s neighborhood, leaving her home standing but uninhabitable, her first thought was for the safety of her family and pets — especially Z, her African grey parrot.

“Our home is standing but uninhabitable, and I was so worried about the air quality affecting Z,” says Michelle. “She was stressed being kept in her travel cage and started pecking at her wings. We didn’t know how long it would take us to find a house, so I jumped on social media and asked all my animal welfare friends if they knew of someone who could foster my bird while we figured out housing.”

Help came from an unexpected source. A friend of a friend saw Michelle’s plea and immediately thought of actor Gilles Marini. Best known for his roles in Sex and the City and Dancing with the Stars, Gilles is also a longtime supporter of Best Friends and a devoted caregiver to his rescued African grey parrot, Anya. When he heard about Z, he didn’t hesitate to help.

[Celebrities support pets affected by L.A. wildfires]

“I was already helping people who evacuated or lost their homes near the fires,” recalls Gilles. “When I got the call about Z needing a temporary foster home, I immediately offered to take her.”

Michelle mentioned that she adopted Z from Utah, and Gilles’ first question was: “Did you adopt her from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary?” In fact, she had.

The two couldn’t believe the coincidence. Gilles says Michelle was shocked to learn that he knew about the Sanctuary.

“When Michelle told me she adopted Z from Best Friends, it felt like a full-circle moment,” says Gilles. “To me, it was magical to realize this connection and to help someone tied to a place that means so much to me.”

Now Z is flying around his house with Anya. Gilles says, “They get along so well. It’s very beautiful to watch.”

It calls to mind the timeless wisdom of Fred Rogers, host of the beloved children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, who famously said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

[Volunteers power efforts to help pets amid L.A. fires]

That truth is playing out across L.A. and surrounding areas impacted by the wildfires. Everywhere you look, an army of helpers is pitching in. From first responders and volunteers to celebrities and animal welfare organizations, people from all walks of life are rolling up their sleeves to assist the people and animals affected by one of the worst natural disasters in L.A. history.

Michelle and her family — including her two extra-large dogs — recently found a rental home and are slowly picking up the pieces of their lives. She plans to retrieve Z from Gilles soon but jokes that Z might not be ready to leave her luxurious setup. “He has an outdoor aviary and a walk-in shower, which she loves,” Michelle says with a laugh. “Z’s not going to want to come home now.”

For Z and Michelle, Gilles has been a true helper, offering kindness when it was needed most. And for Gilles, this experience has been another reminder of the deep connections shared between people and the animals they love.

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.