LAKEPORT, Calif. – Thursday turned out to be the biggest adoption day for Lake County Animal Care and Control in some time.

It was on Thursday that nearly four dozen animals that were not claimed following the Valley fire were offered to the general public for adoption.

By day's end, Animal Care and Control reported that 20 animals had been adopted – 11 cats, four dogs, three horses and two chickens.

That leaves 16 cats and six dogs still needing homes, Animal Care and Control said.

There also are eight goats – all found on Butts Canyon Road in Middletown – that have generated a lot of interest, but Animal Care and Control said they will not become available for adoption until Nov. 3 and 4.

On Tuesday, Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson received approval from the Board of Supervisors for a number of policies to help ensure all of the Valley fire animals are rehomed, including waiving all adoption fees – with the exception of spay/neuter costs.

Even those spay/neuter costs will be waived for “community cats” – mostly feral cats that aren't necessarily pets but which will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and cared for by people who agree to be responsible for them, Davidson said Tuesday.

In the weeks since the fire, concerns about the animals being rehomed have arisen in the community, but Davidson had guaranteed the supervisors on Tuesday that Valley fire animals wouldn't be euthanized.

He had estimated the animals would be quickly adopted, noting there was a great amount of interest from the community and offers of assistance in rehoming the animals from local rescue groups, as well as agencies and rescue groups in neighboring counties.

Davidson on Thursday credited the large number of adoptions that day to the amount of interest that has built up in previous weeks.

He said all but one of the 20 animals adopted Thursday went to Lake County homes. The one that didn't went to live in Potter Valley in Mendocino County.

“I am trying to keep as many local as possible,” Davidson said.

“On Monday we will see how many are left. I will then contact some of the rescues to see if they wish to help,” he said.

The six dogs that were available for adoption as of end of business on Thursday were all adult pit bulls – four males and two females – according to the Animal Care and Control Web site.

While Animal Care and Control had reported that 16 cats are available, its Web site only showed a total of 14 cats featured for adoption, one of which did not appear to be a fire survivor.

The cats that remain available to new homes are a mix of younger and adult felines, most of them found in the Cobb area, Animal Care and Control reported.

Davidson encouraged anyone who is interested in adopting any of the animals to come in and visit Animal Care and Control, located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Lake County Jail.

Animals available for adoption also can be viewed at Animal Care and Control's Web site; click on “Dogs & Puppies,” “Cats & Kittens” or “Livestock & Other.”

Updates also are posted on the agency's Facebook page.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.