From Chaos to Compassion: How a Los Angeles Vet Is Turning Empty Rooms Into Lifesaving Shelters for Displaced Pets

When the Palisades Fire erupted in Los Angeles, devouring nearly 20,000 acres and displacing thousands of residents, Dr. Annie Harvilicz didn’t just see a disaster—she saw an opportunity to help.

As evacuation orders swept across the county, Harvilicz’s brother fled his home, seeking safety for himself and his two pets, a cat and a bunny. His desperate plea sparked an idea that would soon grow into a lifesaving mission.