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It’s been nine months since volunteers have been able to walk dogs offsite at OC Animal Care in Tustin.
That’s because of the Tustin hangar fire in November 2023, when flames burned a World War II-era hangar at the former Marine Corps Air Station.
After the fire, over 300 dogs housed at the county-run shelter across the street from the hangars needed to be moved indoors.
[Read: OC Animal Shelter Calls for Emergency Dog Fosters After Tustin Hangar Fire]
Nine months later, dogs are able to return to their typical outdoor routines — except for one remaining restriction.
Volunteers still aren’t able to take dogs on walks outside the shelter’s grounds, based on direction from shelter staff.
Alexa Pratt, spokesperson for OC Animal Care, said the proximity of the hangar fire forced staff to shift operations and prioritize the dogs’ health.
“While the immediate threat is behind us, demolition activities and ongoing deconstruction, including waste hauling trucks, continue along the roads immediately adjacent to OC Animal Care,” Pratt wrote in an email to Voice of OC.
Pratt said volunteers have shifted to onsite enrichment activities including walks around the grounds, playtime in the shelter’s yards and getting brushed and bathed.
“Shelter dogs can be unpredictable, especially in new surroundings and loud noises, so in the best interest of their safety and the safety of the volunteers who walk them, we are continuing for the time being with on-campus activities,” Pratt said.
She said shelter staff will reevaluate the situation as the cleanup process continues and they feel more confident about the dogs’ safety on nearby streets.
In December 2023, about a month after the fire began, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced there was no detection of airborne asbestos fibers after an air monitoring and sampling process. Air quality updates have also displayed an appropriate level of particulates in the air for months.
Barbara Salamoff, who’s been volunteering at the shelter for over a year, said they used to be able to walk dogs down the street to nearby parks.
She said the biggest difference is getting the dogs away from the sound of constant barking.
“We can put them in the yard that’s right behind their building, but there’s so much barking going on that the ones that are stressed out and nervous, you can definitely tell that they stay at that level of stress,” Salamoff said.
“When you take them off the campus facility and you allow them to smell other areas, they know that they’re no longer in the shelter, and you can really see them calm down,” she said. “It’s also beneficial being offsite and away from the shelter noise environment to work on training and enrichment.”
A letter sent to shelter staff from a group of volunteers also questions why they haven’t returned to pre-fire routes based on county health feedback.
“Based on all the information shared by the city and other government agencies regarding the hangar fire, there is no health concern or negative impact, and the air is monitored by the experts who are relaying this information,” reads the letter. “Please help us understand the disconnect between Monica [Schmidt] and the experts.”
Pratt said they are proceeding cautiously since a hangar fire is such a unique occurrence.
“We have more control over what they are exposed to on our 10-acre campus, and with it being completely fenced, it is the safest place they can be,” she said. “ From the dogs’ perspective, there is no difference between being walked on campus or off campus.”
Volunteers say there’s a clear difference between the constant sound of barking at the shelter and the quiet nearby streets.
“You know what else dogs need? Some peace and quiet and time away from the incessant noise of the shelter,” reads the volunteer letter. “They get a bit of that in the back parking lot, but offsite walks are the real solution.”
Pratt confirmed the decision to keep dog walks on-site was based on evaluation by shelter staff, not on advice from county health officials. She said shelter staff will determine when it’s safe to return to walking dogs offsite.
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.
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