Over 60 Chihuahuas Rescued from Hemet House Fire, Seeking Homes

Local shelters overwhelmed as they work to find adoptive families for the displaced dogs

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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More than 60 dogs, many of them small Chihuahuas, were rescued from a house fire in Hemet, California this week. The dogs are now being housed at the overcrowded San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, which is operating at 300% capacity. Officials are waiving adoption fees and urging the public to come forward and give these dogs a forever home.

Why it matters

The sudden influx of rescued animals has overwhelmed the local shelter system, which was already struggling to keep up with the steady flow of dogs coming in. This highlights the ongoing challenges animal shelters face in finding homes for all the pets in their care, especially during large-scale rescue operations.

The details

The fire broke out around 1 p.m. on Thursday at a home on Merriwood Drive in eastern Hemet. Firefighters rushed into the smoke-filled home and pulled dozens of cats and dogs to safety. Animal control crews later rounded up 60 surviving dogs and transported them to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where they are now waiting to be adopted.

  • The fire broke out around 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • The dogs were transported to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus following the rescue.

The players

San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus

The local animal shelter that is now housing the rescued dogs and operating at 300% capacity.

Lesley Huennekens

Animal Services Field Commander who stated that the large-scale rescue required all teams to jump into action and that the public's help is now needed to find homes for the dogs.

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What they’re saying

“This type of large-scale rescue requires all of our teams to jump into action. Now we need the public's help to give these dogs a home.”

— Lesley Huennekens, Animal Services Field Commander

What’s next

Officials have waived all adoption fees through March in an effort to move the animals out of the overcrowded shelter quickly. Residents can visit the shelter without an appointment to adopt or foster the rescued dogs.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges animal shelters face in finding homes for all the pets in their care, especially during large-scale rescue operations. The public's help is crucial in providing forever homes for these displaced dogs and alleviating the burden on the local shelter system.