L.A. Animal Services SMART

SMART members Lois Bernhard Westphal and Nav getting ready to hit the field.

All animals lives matter! At this time we would like to let you know that Los Angeles Animal Services Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART) is and will continue to be available to rescue animals 24/7 without delay. Although the Government has placed restrictions on businesses and public gatherings due to the Covid 19 (Corona) virus, SMART is recognized as an Emergency Service Unit and will continue to work hand in hand with agencies like LAFD, LAPD, Park Rangers, DW...P, Sanitation and other various City and County agencies if an animal is in need of rescue. Our team of dedicated and highly trained Animal Rescuers is taking every precaution at home and work to stay safe and healthy so that no animal, large or small, domestic or wild, owned or stray suffers and goes without care or attention. Procedures for contacting SMART are to proceed as usual. If an animal is in distress, please call your local LA Animal Services Center at 888-452-7381 or dial 311. For your consideration during this "stay at home" directive, our good friend Justin Zimmerman and Bricker-Down Productions, in conjunction with Cinema Libre Studio, are providing a FREE viewing of the multi award-winning SMART Documentary. Check it out!

An indoor cat named "Rocket" escaped from his home in Highland Park and was missing for two days. Her owners heard faint meowing coming from a very thin tree on their neighbors front yard and called for help. SMART arrived and set up a technical ladder system but Rocket was still out of reach. SMART member Yvette Smith ascended up the ladder and began the delicate cimb carefully testing out each branch before moving on. Once in position, Yvette used a Catch Pole to safely rescue Rocket and deliver him to the awaiting crew on the ground. Rockets family was on hand for the nail biting event and once the cat was safely back in their arms, they decided to change her name to "Smitty" in honor of her rescuer Yvette Smith.

First SMART rescue of 2020! An indoor cat named Rockit is stranded way up this thin tree.

It was another tough year for the women and men of LA Animal Services SMART but we managed to continue our 100% success rate for rescuing animals, large or small, domestic or Wild, stray or owned. We will continue to "risk all to save all" in the decade to follow! All animals lives matter and thanks to your support, they have a voice that does not go unheard.

Happy Holidays! Do you want to help enrich an animals life? Possibly add a new family member to your home? Well this program is for you. For more information, visit LAANIMALSERVICES.COM

Sheba, an indoor cat, got out of her house and ended up stranded on the rooftop of an abandoned house for 4 days. Neighbors tried to help but didn't have a way to get poor Sheba down safely. SMART arrived and set up a ladder to have Team member Lois Westphal ascend to the roof and safely resue Sheba. She was reunited with her very relieved family... on the ground.

SMART was dispatched to the lake at Reseda Park to help rescue a dog that somehow managed to end up on one of the islands. SMART deployed one of their inflatable boats, two kayaks and had RVT Ramon Garcia on a Carlson Board to attempt the rescue. Once rescuers landed on the island, they attempted to caox the dog to them, but the dog was frightend and keep running away from rescuers. After a short game of "chase" the dog jumped into the lake! Rescuers pursued and once near shore, the dog was netted and "fished" out safely.

Horses evacuated during Getty Fire! SMART assisted LA Animal Services officers in evacuating horses from last months Getty Fire. Over 150 horses were evacuated and cared for by LA Animal Services personnel. After three days, all horses were returned home!

In honor of September being Emergency Preparedness Month, check out these daring rescues and trainings conducted by SMART! Remember that licensing and microchiping helps reunite families with their pets during disasters. For more information, visit one of LA Animal Services 6 shelters or log onto LAANIMALSERVICES.COM for more information.

Cuteness times five! Orphaned kitten rescue in progress. A call came in to LA Animal Services SMART for orphaned kittens trapped underneath a house In Canoga Park. If all goes well these cuties will be available for fostering at the West Valley shelter. Rescue and progress updates to follow.

This is why we train! By now everyone has seen the successful Air LIft rescue of Sunny the horse that took place last Friday, August 9th 2019. It was covered live by every News station in Los Angeles and has been posted on over 20 News links (so far) on the Web. After Sunny was gently lowered into the pen by LAFD Helo 2, the scene was cleared and only the veterinarian and a small crew from LA Animal Services SMART (Tami Shepphird, Lois Westphal, Ramon Garcia and Nav) remaine...d to help Sunny get up. After almost an hour of IV fluids, Sunny was still too exhausted to get up on his own so SMART set up a tripod and placed a different Large Animal Sling called the "Becker" on Sunny and with the help of two technical rope mechanical advantage (MA) systems, Sunny was on his feet! The next morning, Sunny's owners called SMART and said that he was up and feeling better. SMART trains every year with the Los Angeles Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team, Heavy Rescue and Swiftwater rescue and also with LA County Air Ops for rescues just like this. If it wasn't for continued training and a good relation with these speciality teams, rescues like this wouldn't be possible.