Urgent: Aid to Domestic Animals Displaced by Quarry Fire

On July 30, 2024, a fire broke out in the suburb of Littleton, Colorado, named the Quarry Fire, displacing almost 600 families and their animals. As of August 2, the fire has grown to over 480 acres and is only 4% contained. Many of these homes had outdoor pets such as horses, llamas, alpacas, chickens, ducks, Scottish Highland cows, pigs, goats, and donkeys, in addition to their indoor pets. Jefferson County Fairgrounds, by way of Jefferson County Horse Council, has opened their doors to allow those displaced, a safe space to home their animals while our first responders work to mitigate the wildfires.

My name is Ally Harmon and I’m a member of the Jefferson County Horse Council, as well as a volunteer for the Large Animal Emergency Evacuation Team. The JCHC-EET is an all volunteer organization. I’m a local nurse just doing my part to help during a tragic situation of multiple large scale fires burning around the metro area, forcing families and pets to flee their homes.

We need your help. With over 250 mouths to feed (and growing), we need donations for supplies in an effort to better care for all the displaced animals.

Many different species of animals are brought in to be cared for. We identify the animal's specific needs and then purchase whatever items might be necessary to care for them properly. Many times the "care items" can be unusual, such as kiddy pools to create wading ponds for the ducks, building roosting perches for the chickens, as well as specialized feed for young and elderly animals.

Our volunteers are working around the clock to care for these animals in nearly 100 degree heat. We can accept bottled water and Gatorade delivered to the fairgrounds, but no food donations, please.

Although we pray there will never be another emergency evacuation, we strive to be prepared for when they do occur. Any funds not utilized for this particular evacuation will be put to use for future emergencies. We have been activated in 28 evacuations since the Hi Meadow Fire in 2000, and will continue to be there for our animal community in the future.

Please donate today. Jefferson County Horse Council and the Emergency Evacuation Team are a 501(c)3 nonprofit and rely on donations from the community. All donations are tax deductible. Every bit helps.

Thank you in advance for your generosity. Prayers for all those affected by these tragic wildfires. May we do what we can as a community to support one another.