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Orange County Emergency Response

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A small tabby kitten with large eyes and a pink nose is standing on a soft surface. A person wearing a blue glove gently holds the kitten's side, and they are partially visible in the image, wearing a purple shirt.

When overlapping emergencies strain public safety systems, true collaboration makes all the difference. In response to a recent chemical explosion threat in Orange County that forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of families, Joybound People & Pets leaped into action.

Working closely alongside the ASPCA and Orange County Animal Care, we coordinated the safe transfer of 25 vulnerable kittens to our facility in Walnut Creek. This proactive effort creates immediate physical space in Southern California shelters, allowing local emergency teams to focus on caring for displaced pets and assisting families navigating the crisis.

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“By working together across organizations and regions, we can relieve pressure on overwhelmed shelters, ensure animals receive immediate care, and support broader public safety needs.”
Miguel abi-Hassan, Joybound People & Pets Chief Programs Officer

Your support provides immediate, specialized medical care, nourishment, and a safe environment for these 25 kittens and countless other shelter animals who will follow in their pawprints. By contributing today, you are directly funding their veterinary examinations, preventative care, and the resources required to connect them with loving families.

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Plus, all gifts are currently being matched (through June 30), allowing you to effectively DOUBLE the impact of your generosity.

This operation swiftly mobilized after Orange County shelters faced extreme capacity constraints brought on by the Garden Grove chemical leak while still reeling from last month’s Bain Fire. Local teams had to simultaneously navigate public safety readiness, orchestrate household evacuations, and take in displaced pets belonging to impacted residents. Seeing that regional infrastructure was facing 100+ shelter cats and kittens in need of immediate placement, the ASPCA stepped in as a central logistical partner to manage transportation and communication between agencies.

Moving more than two dozen adoptable kittens out of the impacted zone immediately freed up vital resources and cages on the frontline. Upon their safe arrival at Joybound, our team enrolled every incoming kitten in our shelter animal care pipeline. This includes:

Comprehensive veterinary examinations
Vaccinations and preventative care, including deworming
Spay/neuter procedures if needed
Ongoing medical treatment if concerns are identified

Our behavior specialists and medical staff are providing continuous enrichment and monitoring to ensure these young shelter guests transition seamlessly. Once they receive medical clearance, healthy kittens will become available for adoption within days — allowing them to find comfort in a home while ensuring our campus maintains capacity for future emergency responses.

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A small calico kitten with large eyes stands near an orange food bowl adorned with heart-shaped cutouts, containing dry cat food. Another kitten with an orange coat is partially visible in the background, both are on a textured blanket.

Want to Help During This Time of Crisis?

Your support will directly funding these cats’ veterinary examinations, preventative care, and the resources required to connect them with loving families, while also ensuring Joybound is able to once against dive into immediate action next time an emergency situation arises for pets and people.

Take In an Animal

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Adopt

By choosing to adopt, you’re not only gaining a loyal companion but also giving a pet a second chance at happiness.

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Foster

Foster volunteers play a crucial role, providing temporary space where animals can heal, grow, and receive special care.

Make a Gift

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Donate Now

100% of every dollar you give goes directly to saving and supporting pets and the people who love them!

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Monthly Giving

Automatic, manageable monthly contributions add up to a substantial amount for animals in need.

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Donor Advised Funds

DAFs are investment accounts for the purpose of supporting charitable organizations.

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IRA Giving

If you are 70½ or older, giving from your IRA can help reduce your taxable income!

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Wills & Trusts

Joybound has partnered with FreeWill to offer an online estate planning tool that makes it easy and cost-free to make your plan.

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Beneficiary Designations

Designating the Joybound as a beneficiary can have a big impact and may avoid unwanted taxes for your heirs.

Employer Matching

Joybound has many programs, in addition to core rescue and adoption efforts, that may meet your company’s donation-match criteria. Will your employer double your impact? Find out by using this handy tool!

Thank You to Our Partners

These effort were made possible through Joybound’s close partnership with the ASPCA and Orange County Animal Care. We are continuing to monitor the situation and plan to provide additional support if needed.

We’re a proud recipient of funding from Maddie’s Fund^®.

We feed our animals high-quality Purina pet food.

You can find all our adorable, adoptable animals on Petfinder