Wednesday, September 16 through Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Wildfire response, pet food access, community cat care, low-cost vaccination, and adoption events shape this cats foundation weekly roundup. Please confirm every detail directly with the provider before traveling. Fire conditions, registration status, supply levels, and clinic capacity can change quickly.
1. Community Pet Welfare Spotlight: Wildfire Pet Preparedness
The Lucas Fire was reported at about 3,466 acres and 15 percent contained on September 12, 2026. Evacuation orders were active in parts of Mendocino and Lake counties. Fire conditions can change quickly, so readers should confirm current acreage, containment, and evacuation orders with official county and CAL FIRE sources. Follow current county and CAL FIRE alerts for the latest information. (Action News Now) [1]
The Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin Street in Lakeport, served as an evacuation site for people and animals. Small animals were housed in a separate building. Livestock could enter through the livestock gate. Owners remained responsible for their animals’ food, water, medications, and ongoing care while sheltered. Evacuees were advised to bring necessary supplies. (Lake County Response Information) [2]
September is National Preparedness Month. Emergency planning should include animals because evacuation decisions often happen with little notice. The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control also used September preparedness messaging to encourage residents to plan for pets before an emergency. (Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control) [3]
A basic pet go-bag should contain at least seven days of food and water, medications, veterinary records, a leash and harness, a secure carrier or crate, waste bags, litter or other sanitation supplies, and a recent photograph. Add a flashlight, a familiar blanket, and contact information for your veterinarian. Store the bag where you can reach it quickly.
Check your pet’s microchip registration and collar information. A microchip only helps reunite a pet with a family when the contact details are current. Keep a paper copy of vaccination records in a waterproof folder. Save digital copies on your phone.
Then practice. A 15-minute evacuation drill can reveal problems with carriers, doorways, medications, and transportation. Practice loading pets calmly. Identify at least two pet-friendly hotels, boarding facilities, or family homes outside the evacuation area. Ask whether they accept cats, dogs, or other animals before an emergency begins. (Butte County Animal Services, California Office of Emergency Services) [4] [5]
Never leave a pet tied, penned, or confined outdoors during an evacuation. Animals can become frightened, injured, or trapped by smoke, fire, debris, or changing wind. If you must leave, take them with you. If you cannot reach them safely, tell emergency personnel where they are located.
2. Resources for Pet Owners in Need
East Bay SPCA Pet Food Pantry
Location: 8323 Baldwin Street, Oakland.
Eligibility: Alameda or Contra Costa residents who can show financial need. East Bay SPCA states that pets must be spayed or neutered and vaccinated.
Cost: Free pet food.
Hours: Tuesday, September 15, noon to 2 p.m. This date falls just before this roundup’s date range.
Contact/registration: Registration was required September 7 through 11 and may now be closed. Check the East Bay SPCA Pet Food Pantry page for the next distribution date. [6]
Joybound FoodShare Pantry
Location: Pittsburg area. Confirm the exact location with Joybound before leaving.
Eligibility: Contra Costa County residents.
Cost: Free, first come, first served, while supplies last.
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 8 to 11 a.m.
Contact/registration: Bring a bag or tote. Confirm current instructions through the Joybound FoodShare Pantry page. [7]
Contra Costa Humane Society AniMeals
Location: Boys and Girls Club parking lot, 1301 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez.
Eligibility: Low-income families and seniors in Contra Costa County.
Cost: Supplemental pet food at no cost, subject to program availability.
Hours: Friday, September 25, noon to 1 p.m. AniMeals is a recurring program with distributions on selected second and fourth Fridays.
Contact/registration: Review the AniMeals schedule before attending. [8]
Pets In Need Pet Pantry
Location: Ecumenical Hunger Program, 2411 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Eligibility: Pet owners experiencing financial hardship.
Cost: Free while supplies last.
Hours: Wednesday, September 30, 2 to 4 p.m.
Contact/registration: No registration is listed on the current schedule. Confirm the event through the Pets In Need Pet Pantry page. [9]
3. Emergency and Crisis Support
The Lucas Fire animal evacuation center was located at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin Street, Lakeport. Small animals and livestock were accepted under the shelter’s operating rules. Owners were responsible for daily animal care. Bring medications, food, carriers, leashes, records, and sanitation supplies. Monitor official Lake County emergency information before traveling. [2]
Check the FDA’s pet food recall database before feeding recalled or recently purchased products. Current listings include Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe, including the two-pound product with lot B-5, Best By 01/26/2028, and UPC 087316384956, due to possible Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination. FDA listings also include GO Raw Quest Cat Food for low thiamine and Revival Animal Health feline milk replacers for inconsistent nutrient levels. Fromm canned dog food is listed for possible metal contamination. [10]
San José Animal Care and Services is investigating pellet-gun shootings involving two stray cats (The Mercury News) [15]. Anyone with information or relevant camera footage should call the Animal Control Unit at 408-794-7297. Do not confront anyone you suspect.
4. Community Cat and Rescue Initiatives
The SF SPCA Community Cats Program provides fully subsidized Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR, for community cats in San Francisco County. TNR means humanely trapping free-roaming cats, arranging spay or neuter surgery, and returning them to their outdoor territory. Services are heavily subsidized for cats from outside the county.
Location: 201 Alabama Street, San Francisco.
Eligibility: Unowned, free-roaming community cats.
Cost: Free for San Francisco community cats and $50 per cat from outside the county.
Hours: Appointments are Tuesday through Saturday, with drop-off at 10 a.m. and pickup at 5 p.m.
Contact: Text 415-554-3084. Humane trap rentals are available Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a refundable deposit. [11]
San José Animal Care and Services offers appointment-based TNR on Mondays and Thursdays for community cats trapped in San José, Saratoga, Cupertino, and Milpitas. Submit the TNR request form. Kitten season continues through October in many communities, so timely spay and neuter services can help reduce future litters and shelter intake. [12]
5. Volunteer and Giving Opportunities
Maddie’s Fund’s Champions for Pet Health weekend runs September 25 through 27. Twelve Bay Area organizations are participating across seven counties, including Animal Fix Clinic, Berkeley Humane, Contra Costa Animal Services, East Bay SPCA, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter, Humane Society Silicon Valley, Marin Humane, Muttville, Nine Lives, Oakland Animal Services, San Francisco SPCA, and Vets in Vans. Free spay and neuter surgeries require appointments. Wellness services, including vaccines and microchips, may be drop-in at some sites. Confirm details with the participating location. [13]
The SF SPCA Community Veterinary Clinic at 4527 Mission Street in San Francisco offers affordable preventive care Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It does not provide emergency care, X-rays, or laboratory services. Text 415-554-3084 before visiting.
The SF SPCA mobile vaccine clinic is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, at St. Anthony’s, 150 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. Appointments open the Wednesday before the clinic. A cat-focused clinic is listed for Sunday, September 27, at 201 Alabama Street. Confirm availability and eligibility directly with the SF SPCA vaccine clinic. [14]
If you can help expand access to no-cost pet care, please support Mission Cats Foundation through the approved PayPal donation link. This is the only donation link authorized for Mission Cats Foundation.
6. Bay Area Animal Welfare Calendar
- Tuesday, September 15: East Bay SPCA Pet Food Pantry, Oakland, noon to 2 p.m. This distribution falls just before the September 16 through 22 coverage window and is listed for reference. Registration may be closed. Confirm the next date with East Bay SPCA. [6]
- Thursday, September 17: Oakland Animal Services walk-up adoptions, noon to 6:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday hours are noon to 3 p.m. Confirm current availability through Oakland Animal Services.
- Saturday, September 19: SF SPCA dog mobile vaccine clinic, St. Anthony’s, 150 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. Appointments required or limited. [14]
- Saturday, September 19: Joybound FoodShare Pantry, Pittsburg area, 8 to 11 a.m. Confirm the exact location. [7]
- Saturday, September 19: Silicon Valley Pet Project adoption event at Pup Plaza, San Jose, 10 a.m. to noon. Confirm details through Silicon Valley Pet Project.
- Friday, September 25: Contra Costa Humane Society AniMeals, Martinez, noon to 1 p.m. [8]
- September 25 through 27: Champions for Pet Health weekend. Registration is required for surgeries. [13]
- Saturday, September 26: Evening for Animals, Friends of SFACC rooftop fundraiser, 1419 Bryant Street, San Francisco, 7 to 10 p.m. Confirm tickets and event status through Friends of SFACC.
Upcoming previews: SF SPCA cat vaccine clinic, Sunday, September 27, at 201 Alabama Street. Pets In Need Pet Pantry, Wednesday, September 30, at 2411 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto, 2 to 4 p.m. [9] [14]
Published weekly by Mission Cats Foundation. MCF supports the well-being of pets and the people who care for them, with a focus on seniors, low-income households, persons with disabilities, and unhoused community members. To donate, volunteer, request support, or submit a resource for future editions, visit www.missioncatsfoundation.org.
Mission Cats Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting vulnerable pets, expanding access to care, and improving outcomes for animals in need. Your support helps provide timely assistance, strengthen animal welfare efforts, and make a meaningful difference where help is needed most.
Mission Cats Foundation, Lake Merritt Plaza, 1999 Harrison Street, 18th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 941-1421
Website: www.missioncatsfoundation.org
Email: missioncats@missioncatsfoundation.org
Donate Link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/HMM3V395UXZWL
EIN: 88-2451640
CA FTB ID: 5075903/000
Mission Cats Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donors should consult their tax advisor regarding their individual circumstances.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute veterinary, medical, legal, financial, tax, housing, social-service, emergency, or other professional advice. Programs, resources, eligibility requirements, costs, dates, and availability may change. Readers should verify current information directly with the relevant provider and consult a licensed veterinarian or other qualified professional before acting. References to Mission Cats Foundation, outside organizations, services, or resources do not imply a guarantee of assistance, funding, availability, endorsement, partnership, or outcome.
Sources
[1] Action News Now, “Lucas Fire: 3,466 Acres Burned, 15% Containment,” Action News Now, September 12, 2026, https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/covering-california/lucas-fire-3-466-acres-burned-15-containment/article_feb2aa9e-7898-4f3a-b7f1-f948550d6790.html, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[2] Lake County, “Lucas Fire Response Information,” Lake County, September 12, 2026, https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1448/Response-Information, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[3] Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, “Emergency Preparedness for Pets,” Los Angeles County, September 8, 2026, https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[4] Butte County Animal Services, “Emergency Preparedness,” Butte County, https://www.buttecounty.net/animal-services, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[5] California Office of Emergency Services, “Animal Care and Sheltering,” California Office of Emergency Services, https://www.caloes.ca.gov/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[6] East Bay SPCA, “Pet Food Pantry,” East Bay SPCA, https://eastbayspca.org/resources/pet-food-pantry, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[7] Joybound, “FoodShare Pantry,” Joybound, https://joybound.org/event/foodshare-0926/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[8] Contra Costa Humane Society, “AniMeals Program,” Contra Costa Humane Society, https://cchumane.org/programs/animeals-2/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[9] Pets In Need, “Pet Pantry,” Pets In Need, https://petsinneed.org/petpantry/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[10] U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Recalls and Withdrawals,” FDA, https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[11] San Francisco SPCA, “Community Cats,” San Francisco SPCA, https://www.sfspca.org/about/impact-results/community-cats/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[12] City of San José Animal Care and Services, “Trap-Neuter-Return,” City of San José, https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/animal-care-services/services/tnr, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[13] Maddie’s Fund, “Champions for Pet Health,” Maddie’s Fund, https://maddies.fund/champions, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[14] San Francisco SPCA, “Mobile Vaccine Clinics,” San Francisco SPCA, https://www.sfspca.org/veterinary-care/mobile-vaccine-clinic/, Accessed September 13, 2026.
[15] The Mercury News, "San Jose: Why the Shootings of Two Cats Are Especially 'Concerning'," The Mercury News, September 5, 2026, https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/05/san-jose-cat-shootings-concerning/, Accessed September 13, 2026.