About Us

The Emergency Animal Rescue came about in early 1994. Several members of the San Diego Humane Society's Animal Rescue Reserve, after spending many days working and rescuing animals in the Tijuana, Mexico floods, saw a need for a fulltime, highly trained non-profit rescue service in the San Diego County area. This core group, some of whom are still with the organization, spent countless hours putting together the Emergency Animal Rescue. There were by-laws to be written, operational manuals to be formed and an organizational logo to be designed. They also had to work with the Internal Revenue Service to acquire a non-profit 501(c)3 status.

After all that, this group had to get the word out to the public. The Emergency Animal Rescue needed members. Slowly, but surely, the word spread. From setting up our promotional booths at any event or street fair that would give us free space to marching in local community parades, the Emergency Animal Rescue was getting their name out there. Letting the public know we exist.

And it didn't take long. In early 1994, we were summond to Los Angeles to assist in animal rescues during the Northridge earthquake. Then again, in October of 1996, we flew to Texas to rescue animals in the floods in Conroe and Liberty. And then again in our own hometown. The Harmony Grove fire; the Viejas fire; the Pines fire and most recently. the devastating Cedar and Witch Creek fires. The Emergency Animal came through with the help of friends and neighbors, rescuing hundreds of animals, holding them in our receiving area, and then returning every single one of them back to their rightful owners. We even found a home for a stray dog. We also sent an SRT (Swiftwater Rescue Technician) team to New Orleans for an 11-day mission in the devastation of hurricane Katrina where we rescued over 400 animals from the floodwaters.

But we do more than the high profile rescues. The Emergency Animal Rescue has done thousands of rescues that go completely unnoticed by anyone, save for the animal and the owner. From the cat that's been stuck in a tree for several days to the dog that has fallen down a well to the frantic homeowner that has "something" in the chimney. The Emergency Animal Rescue volunteers are the one's to call. The Emergency Animal Rescue members have also recently undergone extensive LAR (Large Animal Rescue) training certified through the California State Fire Marshal as well as increasing it's SRT capabilities to 8 certified members.