Animals evacuated from northern shelters near B.C. wildfires

Buttons embarked on a lengthy tripSunday.

The three-year-old Shih Tzumixed-breed travelled by van from Quesnel, B.C. to Chilliwack, B.C. a journey of more than 550 kilometres before settling into her new home at the Vancouver SPCA.

She was one of 52 animals evacuated last weekend from SPCAshelters in the Central Interior communities ofQuesnel and Williams Lake wherewildfires are burning nearby.

Christie Lewis of the SPCAin the Lower Mainlandsaid the two shelters weren't under evacuation orders, but staffworried that the highways could become toughto navigate for their transfer trucks if the fires grow worse.

Animals are already sentevery weekfrom northern B.C. to the Lower Mainlandwhere adoption rates arehigher.

"At that point, we made the call to move everybody down and get them to safety before we even had to worry about it," Lewis said.

Ready for adoption

The 52 dogs, cats and kittens were loaded in vans early Sunday morning in whatstaff callan intense process that can be stressful for the animals but allarrived in good condition.

Most weredispersed in shelters across the Lower Mainland, including West Vancouver, Surrey and Maple Ridge.

That's put some stress on the branches, Lewis said, whichneed kennel spaceto accept othersurrendered animals and strays.

Lewis said all the evacuated animals are up for adoption and won't be sent back to the northern shelters.

"Our shelters will fill back up as soon as they have the go-ahead."

Visitors have already come in to ask about the evacuated animals, Lewissaid.

"It's just added more traffic, which is great."