Petaluma Animal Services back helping Valley fire efforts in Lake County

A Petaluma animal welfare group is back in Lake County, two days after its eviction from the fire-ravaged area by local officials caused a social media outcry.

Petaluma Animal Services, an agency with a big role in the Valley fire animal rescue and relief effort, now has a team back in the Middletown area, said executive director Jeff Charter.

“We’re transporting supplies,” Charter said Friday morning.

Lake County’s Animal Control Director, Bill Davidson, told Charter’s organization to leave Wednesday, saying they didn’t have proper authorization to be doing emergency work in the county. That prompted a storm of public criticism in response.

By Friday morning, the tone was wholly different.

“If Bill needs help with the other stuff, we’ll help him out there too,” Charter said.

Davidson could not immediately be reached for comment, but Charter said the two men had smoothed over their differences.

“Everybody’s passionate in this business and trying to get things done. We were both a little heated … but Bill was very gracious and we’re moving ahead,” Charter said.

The chairman of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Anthony Farrington, helped facilitate communications between the two men on Thursday, and said he was pleased with the outcome.

“They are now coordinating efforts to move forward with rescue of animals and reunification with owners in the county,” Farrington said. “It was important for me to utilize as many resources as we can to help the community - but it’s important for agencies coming to help to follow the chain of command.”

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Hay at 521-5212 or jeremy.hay@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jeremyhay.

For complete wildfire coverage go to: www.pressdemocrat.com/wildfire.