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UC Davis Treating Dozens Of Pets Badly Burned In Valley Fire, Butte Fire Free Of Charge; Seeks Donations

DAVIS (CBS/AP) -- University of California, Davis veterinarians are treating dozens of pets badly burned in two Northern California wildfires. The busy medical center was already near capacity before the fires broke out. Now they are full.

With wildfire victims still coming in, "we are pretty much at capacity," said spokesperson Rob Warren.

The Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VTMH) has received more than 40 cats, along with four horses, two pigs, two chickens, a dog and a goat.

"We don't see significant burn injuries very often," veterinary radiology specialist Dr. Erik Wisner told the Sacramento Bee. "They require a great deal of treatment, support and nursing care. Everyone rises to the occasion when these kinds of things happen."

UC Davis is providing the care without charge to owners, and asking for donations from the public to help defray expenses.

The animals that recover and are unclaimed by their families will be placed for adoption by shelters in their home counties.

In a few cases, firefighters who rescued cats from the charred rubble and brush have requested permission to adopt them if the owners cannot be found.

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UC Davis Dr. Claudia Sonder halters a gelding found in the Valley Fire. (Photo courtesy UC Davis VMTH)

UC Davis VTMH is ranked number one in the world and has treated more than 51,000 animals. For donations go to their website, https://secure.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/public/E_Gifts_vm/.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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