This week’s column is guest written by Chris Ramon, interim president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
Sweet Angel was just 4 months old when a firefighter rescued her from the smoldering rubble of where a home once stood. The fact that she survived the Eaton fire was truly a miracle.
The tiny kitten suffered severe burns all over her body, but she was alive. Our animal control officer rushed her back to Pasadena Humane’s Intensive Care Unit where our veterinary team jumped into action to save her young life.
A veterinarian quickly assessed the kitten. Her fur was singed all over her body. She had significant burns all over her face and her paw pads. Her tiny eyes were sealed shut due to the trauma. The tips of her ears were curled and burned.
The ash and debris that coated her fur was gently removed using baby wipes as the team gingerly began to treat her burn wounds. They gave her fluids to help with dehydration and antibiotics for a growing infection on one of her injured paws.
Over the next month, Angel continued to receive the highest level of care for her extensive injuries. She was showing great signs of progress, both physically and mentally.
As her wounds began to heal, her adorable personality came through. She loved getting pets and would lean in for scratches during her daily bandage changes.
We remained hopeful that her original owner would come forward to identify her. But as each day passed, it seemed less and less likely.
Exactly one month after Angel arrived at the shelter, she was healthy and healed enough to find a new loving home. Within minutes of hitting the adoption floor, she was scooped up by a wonderful new guardian.
Our adoption counselor Ivy Gonzalez introduced Angel to her new mom Susan. It was a moment of healing for Ivy, who lost her family home in the Eaton fire just weeks earlier. Remarkably, Angel was found just a few houses away from where Ivy’s home had been located.
Ivy felt a strong connection with this kitten. Their stories were linked by this horrible tragedy. In honor of this special relationship, Angel’s adopter bestowed the young kitten with a new name: IvyCat.
It’s moments like these that make me incredibly proud to be part of such an organization as Pasadena Humane. We are fully committed to helping animals in our community get the second chance they deserve.
The Eaton fire brought unfathomable devastation to our area. But in this time of crisis, there were so many moments of hope.
From the brave firefighters and animal search and rescue teams who risked their lives to help both people and pets, to the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers — this crisis has shown the very best of our community. Angel’s story is just one of many that remind us why our mission is so important.
Every day we see resilience in the animals who come through our doors. We see the kindness of people who step up to foster, adopt, and donate. And we see the power of second chances.
Angel — now IvyCat — is not just a survivor. She’s a symbol of hope, of healing, and of the incredible impact we can have when we come together to help animals in need. She is also a beautiful reminder of why the bond between animals and humans is so strong.
As we continue to support pets and people in the wake of the Eaton fire, I am deeply grateful for everyone who has played a role in this lifesaving work.
Whether you made a donation, shared a social media post, or opened your home to a displaced pet — you are part of this story. And we are proving that even in the darkest times, love and compassion will continue to shine through.
To learn more about our efforts in response to the Eaton fire and to view pets for adoption, visit pasadenahumane.org