The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) is operating like a modern day Noah’s Ark these days.

Information officer Daryl Meyers said volunteers have been very busy this week taking in multiple horses, donkeys, cattle, pigs, sheep, ducks, chickens and peacocks.

Many are being housed at Desert Park in Osoyoos and Little Green Farm Pet Hotel in Oliver. Meyers said they are also utilizing private foster homes for evacuated pets.

Desert Park photo

Desert Park is registered as a refuge for animal rescue in emergency situations such as a wildfire. There are currently over 100 rescued animals at the facility, including horses, cows, chickens, goats, pigs, donkeys, roosters and other farm animals. 

Rod Trites, president of Desert Park Society, explained that as soon as ALERT is informed about an issue, they contact Desert Park to standby to receive animals they rescue from the path of the fire. 

“They got in contact with us late Monday afternoon,” said Trites, “and we had volunteers that worked basically from 6 p.m. [on Monday] to 5:30 a.m. the next morning receiving animals, vehicles, trailers, etc.” 

ALERT also informs Desert Park about exactly the type of animals they will be bringing in, so that they can prepare the appropriate space for them. 

Desert Park photo

“For example, we built six chicken coops, we’ve built 12 different pens to accommodate sheep, pigs, goats, etc. Fortunately, we already had horse stalls that were available, so we didn’t have to prepare a lot for horses, but certainly for many of the other animals,” said Trites.

Meyers noted that a lot of people visit Desert Park to feed their own animals.

“ALERT really helps people with their anxiety. They know their pets are going to be looked after [during this crisis],” Meyers said.

She noted that if people had to evacuate their homes without their pets, ALERT volunteers can, with permission, go back to the property and feed the critters.

Meyers said people can take advantage of ALERT’s services by registering at the ESS reception centre in the Oliver Legion Hall.

There’s around 50 volunteers at different times of the day at Desert Park to look after the animals, according to Trites. He also added that the facility is thankful for all the community sponsors who stepped up to help including Sunrise restorations, Buy-Low Foods in Osoyoos, Growers Supply in Oliver, and Osoyoos Home Building Centre.

“On Tuesday, we had two food trucks, Yama2Go and Bo Betty’s go up to the park where they served food at no charge; it was a total donation by those two food truck operators,” Rod said the help went a long way to feed the team and keep them going.