25 Kittens Airlifted To Walnut Creek After SoCal Chemical Crisis, 13 Still At Shelter

WALNUT CREEK, CA — When a chemical leak and explosion threat triggered mass evacuations in Orange County and stretched local animal shelters to their limits, a Bay Area rescue organization moved quickly to help.

Joybound People & Pets transported 25 kittens from Southern California shelters to Contra Costa County, creating much-needed space for pets displaced by the emergency and easing pressure on overcrowded facilities.

The transfer was part of a larger regional response as shelters across Southern California worked to manage an influx of animals while emergency crews continued public safety operations.

The regional effort, coordinated by the ASPCA, followed an urgent request for assistance involving more than 100 cats and kittens needing placement as Orange County shelters faced mounting capacity challenges.

At Joybound's Walnut Creek campus, the kittens were examined, vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or neutered. Staff also treated any medical issues identified after the animals arrived.

More than half of the 25 kittens had found homes as of today.

Joybound still has 13. Some of them are currently available and some of them are being spayed or neutered in the next few days. They will be available this weekend or early next week for adoption.