The Labelle Foundation’s Samantha Peraino, Laura Labelle and Sabrina Labelle; PHOTO BY ABE AZAB
Everyone responds differently in moments of crisis. It’s incredible what you pulled together. Can you walk me through how The Labelle Foundation’s fire relief efforts came to life?
We had the space available at Belle’s Boarding & Baths, which is right next to Labelle, and we knew we had to open our doors. Initially, the plan was to use Belle’s as a safe haven for displaced dogs, especially those evacuating with their families. But as we saw the growing needs beyond just the animals, we realized we had the ability to do more. We quickly created an action team dedicated to mobilizing supplies for families in need while also supporting other organizations in the area. Every day, the effort grew—more donations, more volunteers and a wider reach. What started as a safe space for pets expanded into a full-scale relief operation helping both people and animals affected by the fires.
Please describe the work that you and Belle’s Boarding & Baths did to help animals.
During the fires, The Labelle Foundation worked to rescue and care for displaced animals, providing shelter, medical attention and supplies, while coordinating with local organizations for food, bedding, and medical aid distribution. Belle’s Boarding & Baths supported these efforts by offering temporary housing, fostering placements and additional resources. Together, we mobilized over 250 volunteers and animal/supply transporters and distributed more than $148,000 worth of physical supplies. Since the fires began, we’ve taken in 158 additional animals, ensuring proper care and support for all those affected.
Are there any moments that stand out as meaningful and moving from this time?
The dedication of our volunteers was incredible—some stayed for days, coming back again and again, and we saw them as family. Even on the hardest days, we all came together as a community. This truly could’ve happened to any of us, so seeing everyone come together was just incredible.
“The dedication of our volunteers was incredible,” says Labelle. “Some stayed for days, coming back again and again, and we saw them as family.” PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LABELLE FOUNDATION
Besides donating money to The Labelle Foundation, what can people do to help?
Adopting a pet in need is one of the most meaningful ways to help. With shelters at capacity, providing a safe home can be life-changing. When our dogs go from foster care to their forever homes, it opens up more opportunities to save and rescue. You can also support us by sharing adoptable animals on social media, spreading awareness of our efforts, and volunteering—whether by offering transport or donating supplies when we put out calls to action on Instagram.
Even before the fires, shelters were overpopulated, and so many animals needed homes. I imagine that’s gotten worse since the emergency. What can you share about this?
Shelters were already at full capacity, and the fires have only added to the crisis. In order to make more room in the shelters, there are more euthanizations and adoption is the biggest way we can go to stop that. Many families were forced to surrender their pets, and the number of stray animals has increased as well. Rescue organizations like ours are doing everything they can, but the need for fosters and adopters is greater than ever. It’s a reminder that adoption is always a meaningful choice, not just in times of crisis. We also want to push that this is not a momentary call to help, we are going to see a lot more surrenders and more animals needing help as people try to rebuild their lives from this devastation.
PHOTO BY ABE AZAB
“Adopting a pet in need is one of the most meaningful ways to help.”–SABRINA LABELLE
L.A. is such a special place. What do you love most about it?
The energy, the creativity and the people. L.A. is a city full of opportunity, where people are constantly pushing boundaries and innovating. There’s also a deep sense of community here, which becomes especially evident in times of need.
What are three words you use to describe Los Angeles?
Resilient. Limitless. Beautiful.
What’s your hope for Los Angeles moving forward?
I hope it continues to evolve while maintaining its heart. I also hope we see more support for small businesses, creatives and communities in need. In terms of animal welfare, I’d love to see more education, resources and policy changes to help reduce shelter overpopulation. But more than anything, I want the community to stay united. L.A. is a beautiful city filled with so much hope, and I want everyone to remember that we are all connected, no matter where we are in the city. When someone reaches out for help, I hope we always come together as a community to support one another. We are all in this together.
How else can people contribute?
Just a reminder that small actions add up. Whether it’s fostering, donating or simply spreading awareness, every effort makes a difference. If you’ve ever considered adopting, now is the time. Beyond animal rescue, getting involved in any cause that matters to you can have a huge impact. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local organizations or companies near you to see how you can help.
Photography by: ABE AZAB
