As a lifetime animal lover and horse aficionado, Jacob Deutsch’s first response when he learned about the current wildfires in
Los Angeles County was, “What about the animals?”
“I grew up in Los Angeles around horses and on horses my entire life,” the 29-year-old tells PEOPLE. He presently owns six horses, one of which is a rescue, as well as eight adopted
pets.
When you grow up with horses, you know you’ll always want them in your life. They are quite lovely creatures. They’re strong.” They are resilient.” Deutsch, who presently works in construction and development, explains.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, while watching the “nerve-wracking” fire updates from his home in Beverly Hills, Deutsch realized the horses and animals of Los Angeles needed assistance, and he didn’t hesitate to help.
“I began to worry, ‘What’s going to happen with all those horses and livestock?’ “My mind went to animals right away,” Deutsch explains. Then, his thoughts turned to his truck and trailer, a 55-foot-long vehicle that could comfortably transport 10 horses.
“I immediately thought to myself, “Let me pack up my truck and trailer and head over to the location.” “I figured, let me drive over there and see what I can do,” he says. So, on the evening of January 7, Deutsch posted on social media that he could pick up cattle threatened by flames before heading to the Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga to assist horses.
When Deutsch arrived on his first trip, he discovered that many livestock owners were anxious for assistance and unclear how to safeguard their animals while flames threatened their houses.
“People were waving me down, and the look on their faces was something that most people, I don’t think, are very used to seeing,” according to him. They looked terrified and unsure what to do or where to take their horses because the fire was growing so quickly and still. It was a truly horrible incident.
Deutsch did his part to provide optimism to the overwhelming and terrible images by loading horses, donkeys, and other livestock onto his trailer and transporting them to his farm. He and his wife, Ashley, have ample space to care for a large number of animals, and he hasn’t stopped.
“We luckily have room for animals here, and we’re able to help as best we can,” Deutsch tells me.
Since Tuesday, Deutsch has assisted in the rescue of over 90 animals, sometimes reaching within 100 feet of the fires to accomplish a successful save. Deutsch temporarily houses many of the animals on his farm, but he has also entrusted them to safe havens and rescues eager to care for them. While the current L.A. wildfires have produced “ghastly” images, Deutsch has witnessed plenty of humanity during his rescue missions.
“One thing that’s very impressive is how many people are opening their barn doors and corrals to complete strangers who have livestock without any hesitation,” he shares.
“People are responding quickly. They’re behaving impressively. It is wonderful to watch people come together and treat one another with such graciousness, kindness, and respect.”
More positive news: Deutsch reports that all of the animals he has rescued are “safe and sound” and have not suffered any injuries or health problems as a result of the flames.
But for Deutsch, 90 successful rescues are insufficient when animals and humans still want assistance.
He said he will continue to make rescue missions with his trailer for “as long as it takes.”
“I’m around, and I’m trying my best just to continue to help for as long as I can,” Deutsch says. I like helping people and animals in whatever way I can. I always have. And I’m grateful to everyone who has worked to save the lives of people and animals.
