On January 17, a fire ignited near Eaton Canyon from an unknown source and continued burning until January 31. Many people lost their homes, schools, and belongings, but what happened to their displaced animals? Some of them ended up at Freyja’s Friends, a farm animal sanctuary, located down a winding dirt road near Lake Mathews.
Freyja’s Friends is no stranger to rescuing animals, but the seven hens that arrived after the Eaton Canyon fire needed extra love, care, and special accommodations. Their owner’s home had been severely damaged by the blaze. According to Jennifer Lightner, the owner of the non-profit Freyja’s Friends, these hens were brought to her sanctuary as fosters after their home was deemed uninhabitable.
According to the source who would like to remain anonymous, their house made it through the fire but it was so damaged from the smoke their family has been staying in a hotel. The source also stated that the insurance company has not even started on the process of assessing the damage on their property. They have no idea when they will be allowed to go home and no end in sight as to when their lives will be able to go back to normal. The Eaton Fire victim comes to visit her hens at Freyja’s Friend and they greet her in a loving manner.
As she sits and visits with her doting pets the source expresses deep gratitude for finding a safe place for the hens, noting that many animals were either displaced without a home or didn’t survive the fire. They also shared that their young daughter’s charter school had burned down, and there were some animal casualties as well.
Despite the devastation, Freyja’s Friends became a beacon of hope for animals in need. The sanctuary provided not only a safe haven but also a sense of comfort for those who had lost everything. Jennifer Lightner and her team worked tirelessly to care for the displaced animals, offering them food, shelter, and a peaceful environment to recover. As the community begins to rebuild, Freyja’s Friends is a symbol of resilience, showing that even in the face of tragedy, compassion and support can make a difference.
