On this seventh anniversary of the 78-day Camp Fire animal-care response, we extend a special salute to the more than 90 current NVADG volunteers who were part of that very tough response.
Many were already NVADG volunteers, and had responded to a dozen incidents within the previous two years. Others arrived as what FEMA calls Spontaneous Untrained Volunteers (SUVs) — community members who showed up, were sworn in as County Disaster Workers, and got straight to work cleaning kennels, washing bowls, and caring for thousands of evacuated animals.
As soon as they could, those SUVs completed NVADG training and joined our volunteer family.
Our volunteers carry their memories of those 78 intense days — memories of dedication, exhaustion, worry, and extraordinary teamwork. And still, they continue to show up year after year, training and responding when animals in disasters are in need. Among these 90 volunteers are some of our most committed trainers, team leads, equipment specialists, and general volunteers. Some lost their homes in the Camp Fire or subsequent fires; some now serve from new homes far away.
Their loyalty to the NVADG mission is inspiring.
The kindness and authenticity of NVADG volunteers is well-known — and well-earned.
Thank you to all of our volunteers, with a special high-five to those who were there seven years ago and remain a strong force in NVADG today.
If you aren’t already a NVADG volunteer and would like to be part of this dedicated team, new volunteer training is January 17 and 18, 2026. We’d love to welcome you. Stay tuned for Open Registration on this website!